The Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, OPHD, has revealed that its troops have neutralized scores of bandits and recovered several sophisticated weapons and motorcycles in the Northwest.
A statement by the spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet revealed that in one of such strikes carried out on the night of 15 June 2024, over 80 terrorists hibernating at a hideout location at Gidan Kare Village of Ruwan Godiya Ward in Faskare Local Government Area of Katsina State were confirmed killed and 45 motorcycles burnt.
According to him, the strikes became very imperative following intelligence that terrorists numbering over 100 were reportedly burning houses at a settlement about 5 kilometres away from Gidan Kare Village.
He said the troops later recovered 12 motorcycles seen departing the village, moving along a footpath out of the village to a location near Gidan Kare village and Kuka Shidda camp, where they joined up with a large number of their cohorts.
He added, “Other bandits were also observed arriving the location from different directions, an indication that the location was a massing up point with the terrorists likely planning to further attack nearby villages.
“Few surviving bandits were observed fleeing or limping off. Further intelligence received after the strike also revealed that the terrorists were closely linked with notorious terrorist kingpin Yusuf Yellow and his close associate Rabe Imani.
“The strikes, along with others before now, have no doubt disrupted terrorist activities in the area.”
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the efforts of the Air Component as well as other security agencies in diminishing the capabilities of terrorist elements in the Northwest.
He made this known when he entertained the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji at 213 Forward Operating Base, Katsina.
Troops neutralize scores of bandits in Northwest
