By Mohammed Munirat Nasir
The Nigerian Air Force has said that its Air Task Force fighting bandits in Zamfara State under Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has killed scores of bandits
A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, explained that In continuation of operations to flush armed bandits out of the Northwestern part of the country, the Task Force between 25 and 27 August 2018, successfully neutralised several armed bandits at Bayan Ruwa and Rugu forests in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.
Daramola explained that the attack on Bayan Ruwa was executed following an encounter with a notorious group of armed bandits by own ground forces while conducting clearance operations on 25 August 2018.
“The troops called for close air support and the Air Task Force dispatched a ground attack aircraft as well as an attack helicopter to the location. The aircraft supported the ground forces of Sector 3 to inflict maximum damage on the criminal elements”, he said.
The NAF Spokesman added that armed reconnaissance missions conducted on 26 and 27 August 2018, revealed the presence of some armed bandits at a settlement East of Hayin Alhaji, as well as some warehouses like structures deep inside Rugu forest that were being used as hideouts by the bandits.
“Several armed bandits and considerable number of rustled cattle were seen around one of the makeshift warehouses.
“The warehouses and the criminals operating there were attacked by the combat helicopters leading to the destruction of the makeshift buildings and neutralization of several armed bandits”, he said.
Daramola assured that the ATF will continue to dominate the area through armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to completely decimate the armed bandits in order to ensure a return to normalcy in Zamfara and other States in the North West.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/03/31/governance/armed-bandits-nigerian-governor-gives-shoot-at-sight-order/
