The Nigerian Air force (NAF) has deployed five additional fighter jets to Katsina State to boost ongoing aerial bombardment of bandits’ hideouts.
This brings to 10 the number of aircraft so far deployed under Wutan Daji operation, a subsidiary of Operation Hadarin Daji.
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The Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport in Katsina is serving as an operational base for aerial support in the war against bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, who disclosed this shortly after inspecting a designated area for the construction of additional hangar, apron and other facilities for the newly proposed NAF Central Flying School, located at Bakuru village, Katsina State, assured of total commitment to dismantle the bandits terrorising the areas.
“We have 10 aircraft that are operating so far; we have bought a substantial quantity of aviation fuel amounting to over 200,000 litres, along with quite a number of personnel to ensure that the communities are secured,” he said.
He also said the Air force is working closely with the Nigerian army, conducting the operation codenamed ‘Operation Wutan Daji’, which is an air interdiction operation that takes the fight into the forest where most of the bandits reside.