Troops Kill 30 Bandits In Zamfara

No fewer than 30 bandits have been killed by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji which also bombarded the logistics store of the bandits on 26 May 2020, in the Doumborou Forest area of Zamfara State.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, John Enenche, said the air strikes were executed based on credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports, which indicated that the bandits were using a thatched structure within the forest to store their logistics items.

“Fortuitously, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft on patrol spotted some of the armed bandits on motorcycles who were tracked to the storehouse where they lodged some items,” the statement reads briefly.

“The Air Component therefore dispatched an attack helicopter to engage the location, scoring accurate hits resulting in the destruction of the store, which was seen engulfed in flames.

“The attack helicopter subsequently trailed the armed bandits who fled the location and mopped them up in follow-on attacks, neutralizing no fewer than 30 of them as later confirmed by HUMINT sources,” it said.

According to the statement, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, also commended the troops for their professionalism, and directed them to “remain resolute in the conduct of air strikes whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits; thus achieving the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of restoring normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.”

The statement further expressed the appreciation of the Air Force to Nigerians for their continued support and cooperation “as we keep up the tempo of our operations to defeat all enemies of our Great Nation.”