No fewer than 22 terrorists have been killed during an air operation conducted by Air Force personnel in Katsina State.
Among those killed are foot soldiers of terrorist kingpin Abdulkareen Lawal, popularly known as Abdulkareen Boss.
Abdulkareem Boss was alleged to have masterminded the killing of a Nigerian Police Area Commander in Dutsin Ma on July 5, 2022.
Abdulkareem Boss and some of his foot soldiers were killed by air strikes in the Ruga forest in Katsina on August 5, 2022.
A military source on Thursday, however, said the attack that resulted in the deaths of the terrorists was based on intelligence received by troops.
The source said, “Over 22 terrorists, mostly made up of foot soldiers of the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, were neutralized on Monday, July 17, 2023, by air strikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
“The strikes were executed following credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of Katsina State.”
When contacted, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the air strikes.
He, however, noted that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had, since his assumption of office, directed all air component commanders to synergize with other security agencies to target the terrorists’ hideouts.
Punch
