Airstrikes hit large motorcycle convoy, kill bandit commander, several terrorists

Troops from Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have notched new successes in the on-going counter-terrorism exercise, thwarting attacks, killing a notorious bandit leader and seizing a massive number of terrorist members in separate exercises in Zamfara and Katsina states.

The two exercises, which took place on July 7, were based on intelligence and sustained offensive exercises carried out by the troops alongside air cover from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), according to a press release from the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt-Col. Aliyu Danja, on Tuesday.

In the exercise conducted in Zamfara State, troops from Sector 2, in conjunction with local vigilante members, reacted to information that an attack was about to take place on communities in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

The troops fought off the terrorists in a tough gun battle, repelled the attack and drove the attackers away after inflicting casualties.

As part of another exercise in Dogon Kade area, troops reacting to an attack on some farmers killed a notorious bandit leader called Alhaji Tukur, who is reportedly the younger brother of the feared bandit leader Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye.

There were also other terrorists who were reportedly wounded in the course of the shooting before they fled.

In Kaura Namoda, soldiers responded to information regarding the terrorist activity in Sabon Gari community.

Seeing the soldiers advance, the terrorists gave up on their mission and retreated into the surrounding bushes.

Further search in the area culminated in the death of one terrorist and seizure of a motorcycle, which is believed to have been used by the fugitives.

In the neighboring Katsina State, soldiers carrying out a fighting patrol along the Danmusa-Yantumaki axis in Danmusa Local Government Area came across another group of terrorists and a shoot out ensued between the two.

According to the military, the soldiers overpowered the gunmen, who had no option but to retreat and leave the scene. During the search conducted later in the area, soldiers seized two AK-47 rifles, two magazines with 25 rounds of ammunition and a motorcycle.

In an operation regarded as a demonstration of effective air-ground coordination, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma intercepted a terrorist convoy of about 300 terrorists riding on motorcycles from the Sunke-Kumbo axis heading to the Bayazaki riverine area to Gummi in Zamfara State.

The statement further claimed that three aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force were sent when intelligence sources informed that the terrorists were organizing themselves for attacks in the communities.

The aircrafts followed the group after which they conducted surgical airstrikes after the terrorists tried to disperse and hide under trees.

The military claimed that the attack resulted in the neutralization of several of the terrorists and thwarted their planned attack; however, there was no mention of any number of casualties.

The Joint Task Force lauded the Nigerian Air Force for its immediate response and stated that the attack was a huge blow to the terrorist activities in the North-West.

The Task Force reiterated its resolve to continue the offensive operations against the terrorists and other criminals in the theater of operations and assured the people that security agencies would not allow the criminals to move freely in the region and restore peace in the area.