The Nigeria Air Force says the components of Operations Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai killed 30 terrorists in airstrikes in their hideouts in Katsina and Borno.

NAF spokesman Edward Gabkwet disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Gabkwet said the air strikes undertaken by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North-West on Monday killed several terrorists loyal to notorious terrorist kingpin Babura.

He said the strikes were conducted around Bakai, times Bakarya, and Yartsintsiya bandits’ hideouts in Kankara LGA, Katsina.

According to him, credible intelligence received after the strike reveals that about 30 terrorists were confirmed to have been killed.

He said it was also confirmed that Babura narrowly escaped being eliminated while most of his foot soldiers were killed.

Mr Gabkwet said that similar air strikes were also carried out by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai on the same day at Tumbun Fulani, near Lake Chad, against terrorists at a once abandoned hideout.

He said the strikes were authorised after intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions observed a pattern consistent with terrorists’ relocation to new hideouts and movement of their logistics.

“Recall that this same location was struck by NAF aircraft on September 26 and September 28, 2023, with several terrorists eliminated and their logistics and mobilities destroyed.

“That these remnants of terrorists have returned to their once-destroyed enclave is indicative of the successes being recorded by both air and ground troops in flushing them out of their various hideouts,” he said.

(NAN)