The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said its Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation Diran Mikiya has killed several armed bandits at Bayan Ruwa and Rugu Forest in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.
According to Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola the attack on Bayan Ruwa was executed following an encounter with a notorious group of armed bandits by NAF ground forces whilst conducting clearance operations.
He said the troops called for close air support and the ATF dispatched a ground attack aircraft as well as an attack helicopter to the location and the aircraft supported the ground forces of Sector 3 to inflict maximum damage on the criminal elements.
“In continuation of operations to flush armed bandits out of the Northwestern part of the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has, between 25 and 27 August 2018, successfully neutralized several armed bandits at BAYAN RUWA and RUGU FOREST in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.
“The attack on BAYAN RUWA was executed following an encounter with a notorious group of armed bandits by own ground forces whilst conducting clearance operations on 25 August 2018. The troops called for close air support and the ATF 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” Daramola said
The Nigeria Air Force Spokesman added that on 26 August 2018, an attack helicopter on armed reconnaissance around same location sighted makeshift structures within a forested area suspected to be a new hideout being developed by the bandits that survived the previous attack of the.
He said the helicopter subsequently engaged the location and some of the bandits, who were seen attempting to flee the location, were mopped up by subsequent follow-on attacks.
Daramola also stated that similarly 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 warehouse-like structures deep inside Rugu Forest that were being used as hideouts by the bandits. “Several armed bandits and a considerable number of rustled cattle were seen around one of the makeshift warehouses. Accordingly, 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” Daramola said.
He also disclosed 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.
He advised all persons involved in armed banditry in the area to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons.
