Still On Anti-Banditry War

Still On Anti-Banditry War

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

The troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to sustained onslaught against bandit-terrorists wrecking havocs across the nook and crannies of the country, especially in the northwestern states of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto where their heinous acts are more pronounced.

Recently, success stories have been emerging on a daily basis from the battlefronts on how the troops are decimating the terrorists and weakening their defence forces from all angles. The security forces have since taken the war to the door steps of these barbaric criminals with an ultimate mission of ending their terror reigns.

To that effect and against scepticism, Nigerian military are still on course in delivering their enshrined mandates, as high profile notorious bandits’ kingpins operating along Katsina state axes were lately neutralized. Interestingly, their gang members were equally liquidated and their enclaves destroyed during the multiple offensive airstrikes by the Nigerian military fighter jets.

PRNigeria gathered that the airstrikes, executed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft at Ilela community in Katsina State on Sunday, January 30 2022, has led to the elimination of several terrorists belonging to the camps of Gwaska Dankarami and Alhaji Abdulkarami, two notorious terrorists’ leaders.

It was learnt that, the eliminated terrorists were masterminds of several attacks around Safana and Dan Musa Local Government Areas of Katsina State. It is now gratifying that they have finally met their waterloo upon encounter with the Nigerian troops and bow to their superior fighting spirits.

Findings revealed that the coordinated multiple airstrikes were executed after NAF platforms obliterated a rocky cave on the outskirts of Ilela Village, where the terrorists usually retreat and use as safe haven after raiding communities and carrying subsequent attacks on innocent citizens.

“Upon receiving reports of incessant terrorists’ attacks on villages around Safana LGA, especially in Ilela Village where about 12 persons were recently killed and others chased out of the village, the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji deployed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to unravel the modus operandi of the terrorists.” An intelligence source who confirmed the success of the airstrike that killed scores of terrorists was quoted as saying to PRNigeria.

In the same vein, PRNigeria was able to confirmed from another domestic intelligence operative working with locals on the figure of the neutralized terrorists. According to him, not less than 43 bandits were wasted during the airstrikes.

“The aircraft engaged fleeing terrorists on motorcycles with bombs in rocky enclaves. At least 43 dead bodies of terrorists were counted within the vicinity including that of Alhaji Shingy, a brother of killed bandit leader, Auta.

“Several fighters inspired by terrorists’ leaders Dankarami and Abdulkarimu suffered maximum casualties with their logistics and motorcycles demolished during the airstrikes,” he said.

In another development, Troops of 120 Task Force Battalion, North East (NE) under Operation HADIN KAI(OPHK) have also gave a bloody nose to the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. It was learnt that the terrorists were eliminated in a fierce encounter with the troops at Goniri, Yobe State on Saturday 29 January 2022. The operation was conducted in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF).

Owing to these developments, we cannot deny the fact that these overwhelming victories are attributed to the existing collaboration among the various nation’s security agencies. Meanwhile, the act of information and intelligence gathering as well as sharing is also a great weapon to the fight against criminalities.

With respect to that, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has recently solicited collaboration with the Nigerian Army (NA) in capacity development in order to enhance security across the country.

The Commandant General NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi made the appeal when he led senior officers of the Corps on a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya in Abuja, February 1, 2022.

It is apparent to note that a sustainable partnership among security institutions is essential, particularly when attention is given to the current security challenges confronting the nation from several directions. Therefore, in his response, the Chief of Army Staff assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to build on the existing collaboration with the NSCDC and other security agencies, particularly in the aspect of training and other areas of mutual interest.

Additionally, in its own part, Nigeria’s military intelligence body, i.e. the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has been discharging its function in collaboration with other country’s intelligence organizations, notably the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Service (DSS).

It also continues to ensure synergy among the three Armed Forces of Nigeria including the police, especially in areas of information and intelligence gathering and successive sharing.

And these efforts have been yielding successful results on the lingering fight against insurgents, kidnappers and other host of criminal elements. In light of these renewed commitments, it is hopeful that security challenges across the country will be surmounted very soon.

Mukhtar is Staff Writer with Emergency Digest