Nigerian Air Force kills 80 terrorists in precision strikes on Katsina hideout

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar says the efforts of the Air Component as well as other security agencies has degraded the capabilities of terrorist elements in the Northwest.

The Nigerian Air Force says it has killed over 80 terrorists hibernating at a hideout location at Gidan Kare Village of Ruwan Godiya Ward in Faskare Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

45 motorcycles used by the terrorists were reportedly destroyed during the air strikes conducted by the air component of ‘Operation Hadarin Daji’ on the night of June 15, 2024.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, the strikes became necessary following intelligence that terrorists numbering over 100 were reported burning houses at a settlement about 5 kms away from Gidan Kare Village.

Overhead the Village at about 8.30pm, several houses were observed to be on fire with the entire Village in pandemonium, the statement explained.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information, “moments later, 12 motor cycles were seen departing the Village and trailed along a footpath out of the village to a location near Gidan Kare Village and Kuka Shidda Camp, where they joined up with a large number of their cohorts. Other terrorists were also observed arriving the location from different directions, an indication that the location was a massing up point with the terrorists likely planning to further attack nearby villages”.

“Having been presented such a rare opportunity, authorisation was sought, obtained and the location was immediately struck at exactly 9:40pm, with over 80 terrorists confirmed eliminated and about 45 motorcycles burnt down, while few surviving terrorists were observed fleeing or limping off”, he disclosed.

The Nigerian Air Force noted that further intelligence after the strike revealed that the terrorists were connected to a ‘notorious terrorists kingpin’ Yusuf Yellow and his close associate Rabe Imani.

“These strikes, along with others before now, have no doubt disrupted terrorists activities in the area”, the statement reads in part.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has commissioned some airfield facilities such as the new taxiway link to ensure air operations, an engineering building, and the new sports complex at the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji at 213 Forward Operating Base, Katsina.