Terrorists killed, kingpins’ hideouts destroyed in Katsina, Zamfara — NAF

Air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji have destroyed the hideouts of many terrorist leaders in the Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The kingpins whose hideouts were destroyed include Maudi Maudi.

The Nigerian Air Force had on January 30, 2024, said it killed several terrorists and destroyed their enclaves located on Tora hills in the same LGA.

A statement on Thursday by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, noted that the strikes were authorised after the presence of the armed terrorists were confirmed in the location.

The statement read, “Air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji
on terrorists’ enclaves in Safana Local Government of Katsina State have yielded the requisite outcome.

“The strikes carried out on March 5, 2024 were executed at the stronghold of the infamous terrorist leader, Maudi Maudi, and several other terrorist kingpins situated south of Tsaskiya in Safana LGA of Katsina State.

“The strikes were prompted by painstaking Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations conducted in the targeted vicinity where clusters of huts were observed amid rocky terrain. The surveillance also confirmed a substantial presence of armed terrorists loitering among the huts, after which the authorisation to strike was obtained.”

Gabkwet said the assessment done after the operations revealed that several terrorists were killed while others escaped with injuries.

“A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment revealed the targeted location engulfed in flames, with a few survivors observed fleeing to safety. Though several terrorists were eliminated, it remains unconfirmed if Maudi Maudi was among those neutralised,” he added.

Gabkwet also said similar strikes conducted in Zamfara killed several terrorists and destroyed his camp.

He said, “Similar strikes were also carried out on 6 March 2024 at the stronghold of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Alhaji Na-Shama, situated to the East of Ussu village within the Nasarawar Mailayi District in the Birnin Magaji LGA of Zamfara State. Reliable human intelligence has confirmed the neutralization of several of Na-Shama’s associates and the total obliteration of his camp and logistics. It is yet to be confirmed if Na-Shama was among the victims.

“The precision strikes by NAF aircraft have continued to give the expected outcomes with the elimination of several terrorists and the destruction of their means of mobility. These efforts served to protect civilian lives as well as disrupt their logistics support bases and motorcycles. This proactive approach aligns with the mission objectives of Operation Hadarin Daji, which majorly focuses on securing the Northwestern region of Nigeria from the menace of terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry.”