NAF jets raid bandits’ hideouts in Zamfara

• Army releases 23 freed children to Borno govt, UNICEF
• Ortom draws global attention to 500,000 IDPs in Benue

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Task Force (ATF), Operation Diran Mikiya, has announced the raiding of hideouts of armed bandits in Zamfara State.

A statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of NAF Public Relations disclosed this yesterday.

He said intelligence report revealed that the armed bandits were camped in an abandoned primary school in Shamalaye area of the state.

They were also reported to have other settlements in nearby Rugu forest in the eastern part of the state.

He said the attacks, which were carried out with the support of ground troops in Sector Two of Operation Sharan Daji, followed further confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Daramola explained that some bandits flee with sophisticated high caliber weapons, as the ATF aattacked their locations with two combat helicopters.

“Some were on motorcycles carrying AK-47 rifles. But rather than dropping their weapons and surrendering, they attempted to shoot at the helicopters; hence they were neutralised.

The director disclosed that Human Intelligence (HUMINT) sources later showed pictures of some of the killed bandits.

He listed some of the items recovered from the criminals to include two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), two AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two mobile phones.

Also, Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Abba Dikko, has handed over 23 children to Borno State government for “medical and psycho-social.”

The children, who are to be rehabilitated at Bulumkutu rehabilitation centre, before sending them to school, were in addition to an 18-year old pregnant woman.

Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the United Nations (UN), other international bodies and civil society organisations to come to the aid of over 500, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

The governor, who made the call in Makurdi, said his appeal became necessary as the World commemorates this year’s Humanitarian Day.

He described the theme of this 2018 event, ‘Not a Target’ as significant and lamented that people of the state had become targets of armed herdsmen.

This, he, said was a gross violation of global conventions on the right to life and human dignity.

According to him: “The humanitarian crisis occasioned by armed herdsmen’s attacks in the last eight months have overstretched the lean resources of the state.”

The governor disclosed that hundreds of lives have been lost, while homes, schools, churches and health centres have destroyed.

He added that these attacks have left over 180,000 people in eight IDP camps, and over 500,000 with relatives, or in uncompleted buildings across the state.