The Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft has killed at least 22 terrorists in an airstrikes operation conducted in Katsina State.
It was gathered that among the terrorists killed during the operation was a terrorist kingpin, Abdulkareen Lawal, popularly known as Abdulkareen Boss, alleged to be the masterminder of the killing of a Nigerian Police Area Commander in Dutsin Ma on July 5, 2022.
A military source on Thursday reportedly said that the attack that resulted in the killing of the terrorists was based on intelligence received by troops.
The Punch quoted the source as saying that “Over 22 terrorists mostly made up of foot soldiers of the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, were on Monday, July 17, 2023, neutralised 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.”
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who confirmed the air strikes 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 synergise with other security agencies to target the terrorists’ hideouts.