Joy Odor/Abuja
The Air interdiction missions being conducted by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has destroyed a new camp belonging to armed gang leader known as “Dangote” in the Doumborou Forest area of Zamfara State.
This was made known in a press statement by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General JOHN ENENCHE in Abuja Sunday.
He said the air strike resulted in the killing of several armed bandits after Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports and series of confirmatory aerial surveillance missions established that members of the gang, along with their logistics items, motorcycles and hundreds of rustled livestock, had relocated from their erstwhile position to new area by a rocky high ground within the Forest.
The Air Component therefore dispatched an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location.
The attack aircraft engaged the target area scoring accurate hits and taking out some of the bandits. Many others, who were seen trying to flee the location in disarray, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks.
While commending the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar urged them to remain resolute in the conduct of air strikes whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations to eradicate all armed bandits; thus accomplishing the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to restore normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.
