Military airstrikes kill 17 bandits in Katsina forest

By Solomon Kechukwu

The Military High Command said the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji killed no fewer than 17 armed bandits and destroyed their camp in the Dunya Forest area of Katsina State.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche made this disclosure in a statement.

This is even as troops of 251 Task Force Battalion deployed in Strong Response Area Molai acting on credible intelligence intercepted some Boko Haram terrorists and relations of some hostage victims making efforts to pay a ransom of two million naira cash (2,000,000.00) to the terrorists.

General Enenche said that the air strikes were executed following credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports and confirmatory surveillance missions indicating that dozens of Ansaru terrorist group-linked armed bandits had established a camp at the location, which also housed scores of rustled cattle.

“Accordingly, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, which engaged the location in successive passes, destroying portions of the camp, including their storage facility, which was seen engulfed in flames. HUMINT sources later confirmed that no fewer than 17 bandits were neutralized and several others injured,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, troops of 251 Task Force Battalion deployed in Strong Response Area Molai acting on credible intelligence intercepted some Boko Haram criminals and relations of some kidnapped persons making efforts to pay a ransom of Two Million naira cash (2,000,000.00) to the terrorists.

Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko in a statement said the gallant troops engaged the Boko Haram terrorists forcing them to abort the collection of the payment as well as abandon their victims.

General Onyeuko said one Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist was neutralized in the encounter while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

While noting that one AK 47 Rifle and one Motorcycle were recovered from the fleeing terrorists, the Acting Director said the victims including 2 women and 3 children were all rescued unhurt.

He said: “The troops of Operation Fire Ball in continuation of their aggressive clearance operation to stamp out the remnants of the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminals from their identified enclaves in the North East region have continued to record more successes.

“These achievements are as a result of their aggressive and responsive posture throughout the theatre of operation.

“Troops of 151 Battalion conducted an aggressive fighting patrol to clear the Boko Haram terrorist hideout in the general area of Zaye Ngusa Village.

“The troops spotted the terrorists and engaged them with superior fire power forcing them to withdraw in disarray as blood stains littered along their escape paths as one terrorist was neutralized.

“Troops of 202 Battalion conducted a successful ambush operation along one of the criminals crossing point leading to the neutralization of one Boko Haram criminal while several others are believed to have escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds under the cover of darkness”.

He said that troops of 26 Task Force Brigade in Strong Response Area Pulka in a well coordinated ambush operation along Pulka – Sabon Gari – Kirawa road intercepted Boko Haram criminal logistics convoy.

However, the Military High Command commended the troops and other security agencies operating in the North West and North East Zones for their professionalism and urged them to remain resolute in order to eradicate the criminal elements.