The High Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) revealed on Sunday that the airstrikes carried out by the air components of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) had targeted the hideouts of notorious terrorist kingpins. The strikes hit Babaru in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina state and Mai Solar in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
This information was provided in a statement released to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
It was pointed out that during the operations, numerous terrorists and bandits were killed in the airstrikes.
According to the statement, “In the Northwest, the Air Component of OPHD, on November 1, 2023, conducted a series of successful airstrikes in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, targeting the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Babaru. Babaru had been implicated in numerous acts of terrorism and banditry across Kankara and adjacent LGAs in Katsina state. Notably, he was involved in the massacre of over 100 residents of Gidan Gari and Yarmai-Yadiya villages in Bakori LGA on February 2, 2023.
The airstrikes destroyed Babaru’s hideout and eliminated several terrorists, although there was no confirmation if Babaru was among those neutralized.
The statement further added, “Air strikes were also carried out at the enclave of a terrorist kingpin known as Mai Solar in Maru LGA of Zamfara State. The air strikes took out clusters of enclaves used as hideouts by the kingpin and his cohorts at the location. It was a successful strike as few survivors were observed fleeing the scene of the strike. There is no confirmation if Mai Solar was among the terrorists eliminated.”
Additionally, the statement explained that the precision air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on November 3, 2023, also led to the elimination of several terrorists at their meeting point near Degbawa, a reclusive location within the Mandara Mountains in Goza Local Government Area of Borno state.
According to the statement, “the air strikes were called for after intelligence revealed the sighting of some key terrorists’ figures and their foot soldiers arriving at the location for a probable meeting. Their gathering in large numbers raised concerns, necessitating the need for an air interdiction on the location, with a devastating outcome for the terrorists. An assessment of the location after the strike revealed that several terrorists were indeed eliminated.”
It added that “there were also strong indications that these terrorists were responsible for the recent attack on some locals in Geidam on October 31, 2023, and had planned to meet to review the attack as well as plan the next line of attack on innocent civilians and other vulnerable targets.”
