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| Nigerian Air Force Jet |
The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said it had carried out successful air strikes on 8 camps of armed bandits in Zamfara state, killing scores of them in the operations.
It added that those who escaped with wounds are being pursued by ground troops to the border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement supported with a video clip that the operations were carried out in Sububu, Rugu, Doumborou and Kagara forests.
Air Commodore Daramola said: โThe Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has continued to record successes in its renewed air offensive against armed bandits in Zamfara State and its environs.
โThe air strikes, which were intensified on 8 April 2019 with the deployment of additional aircraft, are aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara Forests, amongst others, whilst ensuring the protection of the lives and properties of citizens in the Northwest of the Country.
โOn the first day of the intensive operation, the ATF conducted coordinated air raids against multiple identified armed banditsโ hideouts at Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond and Rugu Forest, where several bandits were neutralized and their camps destroyed.
โYesterday, 9 April 2019, the ATF conducted waves of attacks against several targets. The first wave struck 3 armed bandits locations within Sububu Forest as well as another camp in Kagara Forest.
โTargets attacked in the second wave were notable armed banditsโ hideouts at Kamarawa, Kunduma and Tsamare Hill, while the third wave focused on armed bandits hideouts in Doumborou.
โThe ATF also provided close air supportโช to surface forces of Sector 2 to enable them move into the attacked areas to mop-up the fleeing survivors and recover their weapons. โฌ
โIn all, the ATF degraded 8 camps and neutralized scores of armed bandits.
โReports indicate that, โฌas a result of the air strikes, โชsome of the bandits are fleeing towards the border โฌbetween Nigeria and Niger Republicโช.
โAccordingly, the ATF is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the bandits are prevented from escaping through the Southern part of Niger Republic.โฌ
โThe NAF, in consonance with surface forces and other relevant authorities, will sustain its efforts to end the scourge of banditry and other related threats to life and safety in the Northwest of our dear nationโ.
