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Tag: Airstrike

  • Airstrike: APC Zamfara mourns victims

    Airstrike: APC Zamfara mourns victims

    The Zamfara Chapter of the APC has commiserated with  government and people of the state  on the  accidental airstrike, leading to  death of innocent people  at Tungar Kara, kakindawa village, Gidan Goga District,  Maradun local government area.

    In a statement in Gusau on Sunday, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Yusuf Idris described the incident as unfortunate.

    “The Zamfara APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state over the accidental airstrike on Saturday, Dec. 11.”

    Idris further  described the incident as sad as it led to the death of innocent people,  including some personnel of the state’s Community Protection Guard and Vigilantes.

    “We  mourn the gallant sacrifices of our people  who paid the supreme price while chasing bandits who have made life unbearable for  them.

    “We pray to Allah to accept their martyrdom and accommodate them in Jannah and give their families, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

    He said the  leadership of the party in the state also commended President Bola Tinubu for showing commitments to end banditry in  Zamfara  and the northwest region.

    “We laud the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle for  ensuring that no stone was left unturned in the fight against insecurity in  the  northwest region.

    “We also appreciate the ongoing onslaught against  bandits in Zamfara  that saw to the elimination of many criminals.

    “We are happy with the ongoing efforts by Operation Fansar Yamma that led to  killing of over 25 terrorists at their hideouts, under the control of notorious bandit’s kingpin,  Bello Turji in Fakai community in  Shinkafi  council.

    “It  is quite impressive that troops of Fasan Yamma are taking the fights now to the bandits’ hideouts,  making them flee from the areas.

    “This operational strategy should be sustained and supported by all peace loving citizens.”

  • NAF airstrikes destroy 13 illegal oil refining sites, 7 boats

    NAF airstrikes destroy 13 illegal oil refining sites, 7 boats

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed 13 illegal refining sites and seven Cotonou boats in Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air interdictions conducted between June 18 and June 22, also dispersed five J-5 buses attempting to siphon suspected crude oil products from surface tanks.

    He said that some of the illegal sites were discovered near Imo River on June 18 with seven overhead tanks, which were later destroyed while several suspected bunkerers fled.

    According to him, air strikes were also extended to Wilcourt in Rivers on June 19, after an illegal site and canoe filled with illegally refined products as well as some gun boats

    Gabkwet said the air crew also destroyed some illegal refining sites located at about 6-km from Tunu in Bayelsa.

    He said that the air component undertook another significant strike on June 22, when the crew spotted 5xJ5 buses, probably reconfigured into mini tankers at the bank of Imo River attempting to siphon illegally refined products.

    “Amazed at this change of tactics by these economic saboteurs, the crew did not hesitate to immediately destroy the illegal refining sites feeding the buses.

    “The J5 buses were later seen dispersed with some taking cover under trees to avoid detection.

    “Air strikes against economic saboteurs and oil thieves have continued to record the expected outcomes.

    “This is  majorly due to improved intelligence, enhanced air to ground coordination, and most importantly, due to NAF’s improved agility and resilience.

    “These operations will be sustained until activities of these saboteurs are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

  • Iran accuses Israel of killing military adviser in Syria, vows to retaliate

    Iran accuses Israel of killing military adviser in Syria, vows to retaliate

    Hossein Salami, the Commander-In-Chief of the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC,  has threatened to retaliate Israel’s latest airstrike near Aleppo in Syria.

    It was gathered that the airstrike which was carried out on Monday killed members of the IRGC.

    Saeed Abyar the military adviser in Syria was among those killed in the airstrike.

    However, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Salami said Israel will pay for the death of Abyar.

    The Israeli attack was said to have targeted several locations in Aleppo’s countryside, primarily in the town of Hayyan.

    The Syrian Defence Ministry also confirmed casualties from the Israeli aggression.

  • Britain demands explanation from Israel after airstrike in Gaza

    Britain demands explanation from Israel after airstrike in Gaza

    British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has called for a “full, transparent explanation” from Israel after an airstrike in Gaza that left seven aid workers dead, including a British national.

    He said: “The news of the air strike that killed World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in Gaza is deeply distressing.

    “British Nationals are reported to have been killed; we are urgently working to verify this information and will provide full support to their families.

    “These were people who were working to deliver life-saving aid to those who desperately need it.

    “It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work.

    “We have called on Israel to immediately investigate and provide a full, transparent explanation of what happened.”

  • NAF airstrikes destroy 6 illegal refining sites, 5 Cotonou boats in Rivers State

    NAF airstrikes destroy 6 illegal refining sites, 5 Cotonou boats in Rivers State

    In a bid to combat oil theft and the activities of economic sabotoeurs in the Niger Delta Region, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has, in the last 3 days intensified air operations, destroying 6 Illegal Refining Sites and 5 Cotonou Boats in Rivers State.

    According to the Director Public Relations and Information of the the NAF, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, On 12 November 2023, intelligence received revealed the sighting of 3 active Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and 2 Cotonou Boats siphoning crude oil from pipelines at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri in Rivers State.

    The IRS and boats were subsequently engaged and destroyed. Similar strikes were also carried out at Krakama in Rivers State, on the same day, on 3 Cotonou Boats sighted conveying suspected illegal refined products. On 13 November 2023, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft also struck some sites at Dariama Village in Rivers State following intelligence report of illegal refining activities near the location.

    On arrival, 3 IRS with tanks, pipes and pumping machines as well as Cotonou Boats loaded with suspected illegally refined products were sighted, engaged and subsequently destroyed.

    The intensified air operations should be seen as proactive measures to safeguard the economic interests of the nation and deter criminal elements involved in oil theft.

    The NAF, alongside sister Services and other security agencies, remains committed in its efforts at securing vital government resources and infrastructures in the Niger Delta Region and beyond.

  • NAF airstrikes hit remnants of terrorists in Borno

    NAF airstrikes hit remnants of terrorists in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, has in an early morning air strike on Monday, dislodged terrorists from their enclaves at Suwa in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said that Suwa was a stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists in Gezuwa general area near Sambisa Forest until it was dislodged by the military and other security agencies.

    He said that recent intelligence revealed the massing up of terrorists within the area with likely plans to attack troops on patrol along major routes to Bama and Mafa Local Government Areas of the state.

    According to him, further intelligence also revealed that the same group of terrorists had perfected plans to attack troops stationed around Rann in Kalabalge Local Government Area.

    “Accordingly, air strikes were authorized with confirmatory assessments revealing several terrorists neutralised and structures destroyed thereby degrading their ability to attack friendly forces and innocent law abiding civilians.

    “It has now become evident that the efforts of the entire security agencies operating in the Northeast has, to a large extend, yielded the requisite outcome, though a lot still needs to be done.

    “The need to sustain the momentum is thus expedient, just all the support of all Nigerians to the Armed Forces and other security agencies is essential as they clear the region of all criminal elements.

    “For the Air Component Commanders in all joint operating theatres, the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, remains clear and unambiguous: that is ‘Stop at nothing in going after these criminals and ensure they are brought to justice. The era of treating them with kids’ gloves is long over’,” he said.

  • No American casualty from Iran’s missile strikes – US

    No American casualty from Iran’s missile strikes – US

    An official of the the United States Pentagon said there were no casualties recorded on the side of its troops in Iraq, after missile hits by Iran on Wednesday on air bases at Al Asad and Erbil used in conjunction with Iraqi troops.

    This denial debunked Iranian claims that its missiles killed 80 US military personnel and wounded 200 others.

    With no Americans killed, expectations of an immediate escalation in the oil-exporting region appeared to recede.

    Though retribution had been expected for the deadly drone strike, Iraq said it had received verbal notice from the Iranians prior to the strikes.

    A U.S. official said the Iranians deliberately aimed to miss the Americans.

    This may have informed President Donald Trump’s cryptic tweet early on Wednesday: ‘So far so good, all is well”.

    “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning”.

    He promised to make a statement later today. But he has not, since 11 hours ago, after his last tweet.

    Meanwhile, airlines are not taking chances that the conflict will not snowball into more ciolence and missile strikes as they changed routes to avoid the conflict zone.

  • JUST IN: Fresh airstrike in Baghdad kills six Iraqi militia leaders

    JUST IN: Fresh airstrike in Baghdad kills six Iraqi militia leaders

    (more…)

  • Banditry: Zamfara monarchs apologise to NAF over allegations of killing innocent citizens in airstrike

    The Chairman, Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has apologized to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over its recent allegations that innocent citizens were killed in the state during air strikes by personnel of the Air Force.

    The Chairman Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Anka, made the apology when a seven-man high powered investigation team led by AVM Idi Lubo visited him at his palace in Anka on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the traditional rulers had, a fortnight ago, alleged that air strikes on suspected bandits camps hit at and killed innocent citizens in some parts of the state.

    The emirs spoke at a press briefing through the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru.

    This followed an emergency meeting they held in reaction to an earlier accusation by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mansur Dan Ali, that some high ranking traditional rulers were conniving with the bandits.

    The Emir of Bungudu also followed up the claim with the release of the names of some persons who were killed in the air strikes.

    The Emir of Anka, however, said “the council regrets the embarrassment caused by the press briefing because it was not targeted at the Air Force or the army but at our own son, the Minister of Defence, who wrongly accused us of complicity in the bandits activities in the state.

    “l apologize over whatever embarrassment the statement may have caused and from now, we have drawn a line, there won’t be anything like that again, and I want to appeal that care should be applied while tracking the bandits and when they run from your fire power into the community, the land army should take over so as to avoid killing the innocent.

    “Out of the 17 emirate councils that we have in the state, mistakes occurred in only four and the submissions we made were gathered in the last two years, l also want to state that nothing happened on innocent citizens in the last six months in the state,” he said.

    While speaking on the list of killed persons that was later released by the Emir of Bungudu, the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs said: “The Emir of Bungudu is not the spokesman of the council even though he read our press briefing that day.

    “The list of victims that he released to the press on a later day did not emanate from me nor was I aware of it as the Chairman, l will only take responsibility because l am the Chairman”.

    He then assured that the traditional council would continue to support security agencies in the fight against armed banditry in the state and urged the army to go and occupy deserted villages where some of the bandits were hiding.

    Earlier, leader of the team, AVM Idi Lubo, said the team was in the state to investigate the true position of the allegations in order to avoid future occurrance.

    “We have also come with condolence letter from the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, in case some innocent people were killed in our encounter with bandits.”

  • Banditry: NAF’s airstrike operations killing ‘innocent’ citizens – Zamfara monarchs

    Zamfara Council of Chiefs on Thursday said many innocent villagers have been killed in misdirected air strikes by the military in the ongoing fight against bandits in the state.

    The Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru made the disclosure at the end of an emergency meeting of the council, on Thursday in Gusau.

    “The Council noted that airstrikes undertaken by the military do not hit the main camps of the bandits.

    “Reports from Mutu in Gusau and Tsafe Local government areas, Tangaram in Anka local government and Dumburum in Zurmi local area among others are that the areas shelled were not the actual hideouts of the bandits and the victims were innocent civilians.”

    The council said that efforts to end banditry in the state would only be achieved “if the main camps of the bandits are taken over and security personnel stationed there for a considerable period of time.

    “This will deprive the bandits territory, mobility and supply routes, thus securing all surrounding areas.”

    On the recent allegation of connivance with bandits by some traditional rulers made by Defence Minister, Mansur Dan’Ali, the council challenged the minister to immediately name the traditional rulers or withdraw the statement.

    “Failure to do this will make his statement false and an attempt to tarnish the image of the traditional rulers and thereby making them scapegoats for the inability of the military and other security forces to end the scourge.”

    The council maintained that the traditional rulers had always cooperated with government and security agencies in providing information on location, routes and names of persons engaged in such criminal activities.

    “Unfortunately, the military and other security agencies have failed to be on top of the situation.

    “We will not shield anyone and we will want any suspect however highly placed to be arrested and prosecuted, ” the council maintained.

    Recall that the state government had late last year suspended seven district heads with one other still on the run over alleged conspiracy with bandits in the state.

    The meeting, chaired by council Chairman and Emir of Anka,Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad, was attended by all the emirs in the state.