In its recent air interdictions in Kaduna and Zamfara states, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, through its OPERATION DIRAN MIKIYA, has neutralized scores of armed bandits in Sububu and Rugu forests in the respective states.
A statement by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Ibikunle Daramola, the last operation was executed at Sububu Forest on the afternoon of August 9 following the discovery of a bandits’ hideout within the Forest.
According to the NAF’s spokesman, the operations which commenced on July 31 was aimed at locating and neutralizing armed bandits with a view to stopping killings, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the Northwest.
Mr Daramola revealed that the mission was initiated based on credible intelligence that a location on the fringes of Rugu Forest near Ajia, in the Eastern part of Zamfara State, was being used by the bandits as a logistics staging area for the supply of arms and ammunition.
He said: “During the operation, the bandits were discovered to have vacated the camp and dispersed into the nearby Sububu Forest.
“Thereafter, a combat helicopter on a reconnaissance mission spotted a group of bandits, armed with automatic weapons and mounted on motorcycles, at a location about 6km Northeast of Birnin Magaji in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.
“Accordingly, a fighter aircraft and helicopter gunship were dispatched to attack the location within the Forest. Upon arrival over the objective, several armed bandits were seen on motorcycles. They were attacked and neutralized in successive strikes by the 2 aircraft.”
