Nigerian Air Force destroys terrorists’ enclaves in Katsina, Borno

• Troops spotted a set of 11 armed terrorists moving towards a mountainous area at the location

The Nigeria Air Force, NAF, has destroyed terrorists’ enclaves in Borno and Katsina states while killing several of the insurgents.

Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai carried out the airstrikes over the weekend in the two states.

A statement by NAF’s Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet said the NAF struck a terrorist enclave located northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Gabkwet said troops spotted a set of 11 armed terrorists moving towards a mountainous area at the location.

He said another two separate sets of terrorists joined the first set, and all were observed heading towards the same direction towards the mountainous high ground.

Subsequently, following authorisation, the terrorists were effectively engaged by NAF aircraft in several passes with scores neutralised and the few survivors scampering in disarray.

The NAF spokesman disclosed that more airstrikes were conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in the early hours of Saturday, 6 April 2024 at Grazah in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

He said previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other ammunition.

NAF’s spokesman stressed that recent intelligence also revealed significant activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around some makeshift structures at the location.

“Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the location with Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralised,” he said.

He said such operations, carried out deep into terrorists’ enclaves, will continue as the locations are believed to aid their recruitment, training and nurturing of potential terrorists.

He added that “attacking their logistics hubs also help in reducing their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop’s location”.