Air Force kills armed bandits in Zamfara forest

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam Abuja

In continuation of operations to flush armed bandits out of the Northwestern part of the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation Diran Mikiya has, killed several armed bandits at Bayan Ruwa and Rugu Forest in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.
The Air Force in a statement issued yesterday by Ibikunle Daramola, its Director of Public Relations and Information said the attack on Bayan Ruwa was
executed following an encounter with a notorious group of armed bandits by own ground forces whilst conducting clearance operations on 25 August 2018.
“The troops called for close air support and the ATF dispatched a ground attack aircraft as well as an attack helicopter to the location. The aircraft supported the ground forces of Sector 3 to inflict maximum damage on the criminal elements.
“On 26 August 2018, an attack helicopter on armed reconnaissance around same location sighted makeshift structures within a forested area suspected to be a new hideout being developed by the bandits that survived the attack of the previous day. The helicopter subsequently engaged the location. Some of the bandits, who were seen attempting to flee the location, were mopped up by subsequent follow-on attacks.
“Similarly, armed reconnaissance missions conducted on 26 and 27 August 2018, revealed the presence of some armed bandits at a settlement East of Hayin Alhaji as well as some warehouse-like structures deep inside Rugu Forest that were being used as hideouts by the bandits. Several armed bandits and a considerable number of rustled cattle were seen around one of the makeshift warehouses. Accordingly, the warehouses and the criminals operating there were attacked by the combat helicopters leading to the destruction of the makeshift buildings and neutralization of several armed bandits.”