The Nigerian Air force (NAF) Sunday said airstrikes carried out by the air components of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) hit the hideouts of notorious terrorist kingpins, Babaru in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina state and Mai Solar in Maru LGA of Zamfara state.
NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet who disclosed this in a statement, noted that several terrorists and bandits were also killed in the airstrikes.
“In the Northwest, the Air Component of OPHD on 1 November 2023, conducted series of successful airstrikes in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, 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 neutralized.
“Air strikes were also carried out at the enclave of 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, ” he said .
Gabkwet also said precision air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on 3 November 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 the location for a probable meeting.
“Their gathering in large number raised concerns, thus necessitating the need for an air interdiction on the location with devastating outcome for the terrorists. An assessment of the location after the strike revealed several terrorists were indeed eliminated,” he said.
