NAF airstrikes eliminate 22 terrorists in Katsina

At least 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been neutralised…

At least 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been neutralised by air strikes on Monday.

The strikes were executed by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia LGAs of Katsina State

Sources said the bombardment followed credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of the state.

It would be recalled that air strikes by NAF on  August 6, 2022 eliminated Abdulkareem Boss and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in Katsina State.

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Late Abdulkareem Boss was alleged to have masterminded the killing of the Police Area Commander of Dutsin-ma on 5 July 2022 and several other atrocities.

Similarly, an intelligence report at SOLA POI II uncovered a large number of terrorists hibernating at the location with the aim of kidnapping and attacking commuters along Jibia-Katsina road. 

The air component of OPHD conducted waves of air interdiction missions which acquired the targets in multiple passes killing several terrorists and destroying their structures and hideouts.

The air component of OPHD, after days of careful planning and coordination had, on 6 August 2022, carried out successful strikes on Abdulkareem’s enclaves located at Rugu Forest in Katsina State, leading to his elimination.

A source said Abdulkareem Boss was a high-valued target who had been on the radar of the military and other security agencies for a while. He was based in Marina area of Safana LGA and was responsible for several terrorists’ attacks, animal rustlings and kidnappings.

When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the air strikes but declined to give details.

He, however, noted that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar has since assumption of office, directed all air component commanders to jointly synergise their efforts with other security agencies as they bring to bear NAF’s fire power on all terrorists’ targets and their enclaves.

Meanwhile, troops of the 21-Armored Brigade, Bama, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have killed eight  Boko Haram terrorists in three communities of Bama local government area in Borno State.

The troops made the unprecedented incursions into the Boko Haram hideouts in the early hours of Thursday July 20, 2023, in a determined effort to completely eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating along the fringes of the Sambisa forest.

Intelligence sources including Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Maiduguri on Thursday.

He said the troops stormed and cleared some of the terrorists’ hideouts of Bula Daloye, Bulongu Dina, Mairamiri Dina. 

The troops killed eight suspected terrorists in a heavy gunfire, recovered their weapons and other items while few others fled. The troops also rescued women and children from the enclaves of the terrorists, he said.