Air Components Carries Out Successful Air Strikes At Yartsamiya And Grazah in KATSINA And Borno States

In a streak of successful air strikes by the Air Components of Operation Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai through the weekend terrorists were again denied freedom of movement aimed at soft targets, with several of them neutralized while others scampered in disarray. 

A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, 

Nigerian Air Force Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet said one of such strikes was carried out under Operation Hadarin Daji on 5 April 2024 at a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina state. 

At the location, a set of 11 armed terrorists were sighted moving towards a mountainous area and soon after, 2 separate sets of terrorists joined the first, and all were observed heading towards the same direction towards the mountainous high ground. 

The terrorists were effectively engaged by the Nigerian Air Force aircraft in several passes with several of them neutralized and the few survivors scampering in disarray.

Air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in the early hours of 6 April 2024 at Grazah in Gwoza LGA of Borno State also yielded the requisite outcome. Previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating their Improvised Explosive Devices and other ammunition. 

Recent intelligence also revealed significant terrorists’ activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around some makeshift structures at the location. Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the location with Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralized.

These operations, carried out deep into terrorists’ enclaves, will continue as these areas are believed to aid their recruitment, training and nurturing of potential terrorists. Attacking their logistics hubs also help in reducing their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop’s location. 

The Air Force said the provision of timely information and intelligence by the populace has also been key to the successes recorded and would remain so if sustained.