Nigerian military backed by fighter aircraft of the NAF have foiled two separate cattle rustling operations in Zamfara and Niger States.
The troops, with three Nigerian Air Force, NAF, alpha jets and helicopter gunship, also raided terrorists’ enclaves in Kaduna State, destroying their camps on Wednesday.
A military intelligence officer, that was involved in the operation in Zamfara, said 20 terrorists were eliminated at Kofar Danya area of the State, when they attempted to rustle over 200 cows.
The source said that, “Sequel to credible intelligence of a mass movement of terrorists with over 200 rustled cattle at Kofar Danya area of Zamfara, two NAF fighter jets were immediately scrambled.
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“On arrival, the crew sighted terrorists on motorcycles in their large numbers, burning villages and rustling cattle.
“Subsequently, the aircraft immediately engaged the terrorists with rockets, killing 23 terrorists with many others sustaining injuries”.
It was gathered that troops on Wednesday evening sighted five motorcycles conveying 13 suspected terrorists to a canoe loading point near Shiroro Lake, in Niger.
“A few persons were seen waiting at this canoe boarding point just as other canoes were observed to be arriving and disembarking passengers some of whom were armed.
“Having confirmed that the persons are terrorists and their cohorts, air strikes were authorised, leading to the elimination of over 17 terrorists and destructions of several motorcycles and canoes,” a local security source said.
According to a local source in Kaduna, no fewer than seven camps of the terrorists were ‘leveled’ at Ukambo forest, by missiles of a military helicopter gunship.
