A series of airstrikes carried out by the air units of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West and Operation Hadin Kai in the North East resulted in the elimination of several terrorists and the destruction of their enclaves.
The targeted airstrikes, spanning from October 31 to November 1, were designed to eliminate the key figures within terrorist networks in Katsina, Borno, and Zamfara.
Katsina witnessed a surgical air interdiction operation, meticulously directed at the hideout of the alleged terrorist mastermind, Babaru. He was accused of orchestrating the tragic deaths of more than 100 individuals in Bakori Local Government Area on February 2, 2023.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Nigeria Air Force Public Relations and Information, stated on Sunday, reporting that the operation’s airstrikes had successfully taken out several terrorists and razed Babaru’s camp.
It partly read, ‘The preceding week has no doubt been eventful, especially for the air components of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in the Northwest and Operation Hadin Kai in Northeast Nigeria. Alongside the Land Component and other security agencies, aircraft under these operational theatres have ensured that terrorists, insurgents, and other criminal elements operating in the two regions do not constitute significant security threats to innocent citizens within the regions.’
‘In the Northwest, the Air Component of OPHD on November 1, 2023, conducted a series of successful airstrikes in Kankara LGA of Katsina State on November 1, 2023, targeting the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Babaru. Babaru has 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, though there was no confirmation if Babaru was among those neutralised.’
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It was also noted by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet that in Zamfara, the camp of another terrorist kingpin, Mai Solar, was laid to waste, and a considerable number of terrorists were eliminated.
‘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,’ the statement added.
Gabkwet pointed out that in Borno, terrorists who had assembled for a meeting in the Mandara Mountains were eliminated, and the location was completely eradicated by airstrikes executed by the service’s personnel.
He said, ‘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. 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, thus 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 several terrorists were indeed eliminated.’
‘According to several sources, the particular location was carefully chosen by the terrorists to evade being easily detected, especially by NAF aircraft. The outcome of the strike, however, proved the terrorists wrong, as their nefarious plans to meet were detected, thus leading to the success of the air strike. The sources also noted that this strike was a major setback for the terrorists, who have, of late, been at the receiving end of the air and land components of OPHK. 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.’