The Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has eliminated more than 80 terrorists in airstrikes at Gidan Kare Village in Faskare Local Government Area of Katsina State.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Monday, June 17, 2024.

Gabkwet said the airstrikes carried out on Saturday night killed the terrorists and burnt more than 45 motorcycles.

He said the strikes became necessary following intelligence that terrorists numbering over 100 were burning houses at a settlement about five kilometres away from Gidan Kare Village.

He noted that several houses were observed to be on fire with the entire village in pandemonium at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.

The NAF spokesperson said: “Moments later, 12 motorcycles were seen departing the Village and trailed along a footpath out of the village to a location near Gidan Kare Village and Kuka Shidda Camp, where they joined a large number of their cohorts.

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“Other terrorists were also observed arriving at the location from different directions, an indication that the location was a mass up point with the terrorists likely planning to further attack nearby villages.

“Having been presented such a rare opportunity, authorisation was sought, obtained and the location was immediately struck at exactly 9:40 p.m., with over 80 terrorists confirmed eliminated and about 45 motorcycles burnt down, while few surviving terrorists were observed fleeing or limping off.

“Further intelligence received after the strike also revealed that the terrorists were closely linked with notorious terrorists kingpin, Yusuf Yellow, and his close associate Rabe Imani.

“These strikes, along with others before now, have no doubt disrupted terrorists activities in the area.”

Gabkwet quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, as commending the efforts of the air component as well as other security agencies in diminishing the capabilities of terrorists in the North-West region of the country.

The Star