Several bandits have been killed by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI at 2 separate camps, Tsibiri and Manya, in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.
The air strikes, which also saw the destruction of the bandits weapons, was carried out on 6 June 2020, as part of offensive operations to rid the North West and North Central States of armed banditry.
A statement issued on Sunday by the defence headquarters, said in one of the camps, south of Manya, the attack helicopter struck the camp, resulting in “the killing of more armed bandits, including some of their leaders, as they gathered for a meeting at the location.”
The statement reads: “The air interdiction mission at Tsibiri, which is located 15Km East of Zurmi, was executed on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the camp, with its clusters of thatched huts nestled close to a group of trees, was being used by the bandits to house their fighters and store their weapons and ammunition. Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force attack helicopters were dispatched to engage the location scoring accurate hits on the target area leading to the destruction of the structures and the weapons and ammunition stored in them as well as the neutralization of bandits in the huts and surrounding bushes.”
The statement conveyed the commendation of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism and “directs them to remain resolute whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations, towards accomplishing the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to restore normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.”
