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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed a key bandit hideout and rescued 76 kidnapped victims including women and children during a coordinated airstrike in Katsina State.
The precision operation, which targeted Pauwa Hill in Kankara Local Government Area, struck the stronghold of the notorious bandit kingpin, Babaro, who was behind the recent deadly attack on Gidan Mantau in Malumfashi Local Government Area.
“This morning, the NAF carried out a decisive air operation at Pauwa Hill in Kankara Local Government Area, successfully rescuing 76 kidnapped victims, including women and children,” said Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the statement, the airstrike took place between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with NAF jets zeroing in on Babaro’s base described as one of the most feared and fortified bandit enclaves in the region.
Mu’azu confirmed that all the abductees taken during the Gidan Mantau attack were among those rescued. However, he also revealed the tragic loss of one child during the ordeal.
He described the operation as a “breakthrough in ongoing security efforts across Katsina State,” emphasizing that it is part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts, disrupting bandit networks, and ending the cycle of violence plaguing the region.
“The rescue underscores the effectiveness of coordinated air and ground operations,” he added.
The Katsina State Government commended the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, and other security agencies involved in the operation, praising their “courage and professionalism.”
“We remain committed to supporting them through logistics, intelligence-sharing, and community engagement until banditry is completely eradicated,” the commissioner stated.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and to share timely and actionable information with authorities to support ongoing operations aimed at reclaiming communities from criminal elements.