More trouble for insurgents as intense air offensives rock Northwest, Northeast Nigeria
More trouble for insurgents as intense air offensives rock Northwest, Northeast Nigeria
By Lawrence Audu
It has been an eventful and successful week for the air components of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in the Northwest and Operation Hadin Kai in Northeast Nigeria following air raids targeting terrorists’ locations in the regions.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a statement on Sunday said, collaborating with the Land Component and other security forces, aircraft operating under these theaters of operation diligently safeguarded the regions against significant security threats posed by terrorists, insurgents, and other criminal elements.
In the Northwest, the Air Component of OPHD executed a series of highly successful air strikes on November 1, 2023, targeting the hideout of the infamous terrorist kingpin, Babaru, in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State. Babaru has been implicated in a multitude of terrorism and banditry incidents across Kankara and neighboring LGAs in Katsina State.
Notably, he played a role in the brutal massacre of more than 100 residents in Gidan Gari and Yarmai-Yadiya villages, located in Bakori LGA, on February 2, 2023. The air strikes obliterated Babaru’s hideout and eliminated numerous terrorists, although it remains unconfirmed whether Babaru himself was among the neutralized individuals. Additionally, airstrikes were carried out on the stronghold of another notorious terrorist kingpin known as Mai Solar in Maru LGA of Zamfara State. These air strikes effectively dismantled clusters of hideouts utilized by the kingpin and his associates at the targeted location.
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In another display of unwavering precision and effectiveness, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) executed targeted air strikes on November 3, 2023, resulting in the elimination of numerous terrorists at a secluded gathering site near Degbawa. This covert location nestled within the Mandara Mountains in Goza Local Government Area of Borno State served as the meeting point for these nefarious individuals.
The decision to launch the air strikes was backed by actionable intelligence, which revealed the presence of key terrorist figures and their foot soldiers converging on the identified rendezvous point. The substantial number of terrorists congregating there raised alarm bells, necessitating an urgent and decisive air interdiction operation. The outcome of this operation proved to be devastating for the terrorists, as a significant number of their ranks were eliminated.
According to reliable sources, the terrorists deliberately chose this location with the belief that it would provide them ample cover, particularly from Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft surveillance. However, their assumptions were shattered as their malevolent plans were detected, leading to the successful execution of the air strikes. These sources further highlighted that the strike dealt a severe blow to the terrorists, who have been increasingly on the receiving end of both air and ground operations conducted by OPHK. There is compelling evidence linking these terrorists to the recent assault on innocent locals in Geidam on October 31, 2023. The meeting was intended to review the outcome of that attack and strategize for future assaults on vulnerable civilians and targets.
The resounding success of these precision air strikes serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment and relentless efforts of OPHK in neutralizing the threat posed by these terrorist elements. It reinforces the message that the Nigerian security forces remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the lives and well-being of innocent citizens, while relentlessly pursuing those who seek to spread chaos and terror.
