Officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) weekend killed many terrorists during airstrikes in Niger and Kaduna States.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this to reporters in Abuja Sunday.
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He said NAF aircraft struck terrorists gathering at Kurebe in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State following intelligence that they had assembled for an important meeting hosted by Aminu Duniya, a Boko Haram terrorist commander.
He said Duniya was said to have invited the terrorists to his enclave at Kurebe to the meeting that attracted numerous terrorists who came in large numbers on their motorbikes.
“The air strike was successful and resulted in the death of many terrorists, though it remains unclear if Aminu Duniya was also neutralised in the strike.
“It should be noted that Kurebe is a known terrorists’ haven as the local inhabitants of Kurebe have since vacated the villages in and around the area after the terrorists drove them away in 2021.
“The strike at Kurebe came barely hours after a coordinated joint air and ground operations, neutralised several terrorists operating around Damba – Galbi axis in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The activities of the terrorists continued to make life unbearable to locals in the area. So, when intelligence revealed that the terrorists planned to overrun a nearby village within the vicinity, the military saw that as an opportunity to surprise them.
“While Nigerian Army troops laid siege around the location, NAF aircraft were directed to the suspected location of the terrorists, which was then attacked. Several terrorists were confirmed killed after the strike.”
Tackle criminals targeting schools, hospitals, IGP orders CPs
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has raised the alarm that “Rogue criminal elements” are targeting schools, hospitals and other critical national infrastructure to instill fear in the hearts of Nigerians.
The IGP, according to a statement yesterday by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, directed all Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to deploy water-tight security arrangements to hospitals, schools and other critical national infrastructure in their domains. He gave the directive while reviewing the general security situation of the nation via reports from commands and formations across the country.
He ordered the CPs to ensure regular patrols, stop-and-search, raids and show-of-force by tactical commanders to clamp down “On pockets of crime and criminality being recorded in some states of the federation.”
He also charged the strategic police managers at various levels to prioritise the use of intelligence gathering networks, particularly traditional and local intelligence, to locate criminal hideouts and flush them out before they strike.
‘’I am equally charging all officers and men to be on the offensive, and take the fight against crime to the doorposts of suspected criminal elements, including bushes and uncompleted buildings, profile them and charge those found wanting to court accordingly.
“Against the backdrop of this development, Nigerians are hereby urged to cooperate with the police as many police operatives will be seen at strategic areas, routes and communities in order to suppress the antics and criminal activities of men of the underworld.’’
