On July 17, over 22 terrorists, mostly foot soldiers of the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, were killed 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.
A statement by the spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet says the strikes were executed on the heels of credible intelligence reports, that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of Katsina State.
In the same vein, an intelligence report at SOLA POI II uncovered a large number of terrorists hibernating at the location with the aim of kidnapping and attacking commuters along the Jibia-Katsina road.
Subsequently, the air component conducted waves of air interdiction missions that acquired the targets in multiple passes, killing several terrorists and destroying their structures and hideouts.
It would be recalled that air strikes by NAF aircraft on August 6, 2022, killed terrorist leader Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal, aka Abdulkareem Boss, and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in Katsina State.
Late Abdulkareem Boss was alleged to have masterminded the killing of a Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin Ma, on July 5, 2022, amidst several other atrocities.
A source had revealed that the Air Component, after days of careful planning and coordination, carried out successful strikes on Abdulkareem’s enclaves and hideouts, located at Rugu Forest in Katsina State, on August 6, 2022, leading to his death.
The statement adds that Abdulkareem Boss was a highly valued target, who had been on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while.
He was based in the Marina Area of Safana LGA and was responsible for several terrorist attacks, animal rustling and kidnappings.
When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the air strikes.
He noted that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since his assumption of office, directed all air component commanders to jointly synergize their efforts with other security agencies, as they bring to bear, NAF’s firepower on all terrorist targets and their enclaves.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
