In a swift response to a suspected insurgent attack, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) launched a night-time airstrike in Katsina State, reportedly killing more than 80 insurgents.
The June 15th operation targeted a location in Gidan Kare Village, Faskare County (Local Government Area), following intelligence reports of a large group, possibly exceeding 100, burning houses in a nearby settlement.
According to NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, NAF pilots observed signs of chaos, with multiple houses on fire. They also spotted additional armed individuals converging on the site, suggesting it could be a staging point for future attacks. This prompted immediate authorization for an airstrike. As TruthNigeria reported June 17, several large kidnap gangs relocated from Zamfara to Katsina State in recent months to escape air force bombing. Yet in Katsina, they faced pushback from Hausa tribe volunteer security groups, and as a result, the bandits went on a killing spree to subjugate residents of five communities in Kankara County (Local Governance Area) in the westcentral area of the state bordering Zamfara State.
The strike reportedly claimed the lives of more than 80 suspected insurgents and destroyed 45 motorcycles believed to belong to the group. The remaining individuals were seen fleeing the scene; some reportedly were injured.
The airstrike comes amid ongoing security concerns in Katsina, which has witnessed attacks from extremist groups in recent months.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
