No fewer than 67 bandits, armed with very high calibre weapons, including Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns, have been neutralised and several others injured in air interdiction missions executed by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI at Birnin Kogo Forest in Katsina State. In a signed statement by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj General John Enenche, made available to Channel Network Afrique, about 15 armed bandits were also eliminated in air strikes conducted by the Air Component at Ajjah Forest in Zamfara State. He said the both air strikes were executed on 23 November 2020, sequel to credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports as well as aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the 2 forest hideouts, which housed scores of the armed bandits along with hundreds of rustled cattle. According to Enenche the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships dispatched by the Air Component to attack the 2 locations took turns in engaging the target areas, scoring accurate hits on the caves, which are used by the armed bandits to shield themselves from air strikes. While urging the general public to promptly report any persons with suspicious injuries to the nearest security or law enforcement agency post the military high command commends the troops and other security agencies operating in the North West zone for their professionalism and urged them to remain resolute in order to eradicate all armed bandits.
