Nigerian Military ‘Precision’ Airstrike Targets Gathering In Northwest
The air raid on Saturday targeted the gathering and a notorious terror group leader in the region. jg
The Nigerian military has conducted a precision airstrike likely involving an armed drone against a gathering that included a terror group leader in the north-western state of Zamfara.
A Nigerian publication, Premium Times, on Sunday reported that at least 12 fighters and relatives of the terror leader, Bello Turji, were killed in the air raid in Fakai community of the Shinkafi area, Zamfara State, on Saturday.
HumAngle understands that an armed reconnaissance drone equipped with guided bombs was behind the initial attack on the target, a mosque.
An Alpha jet was subsequently dispatched for a second wave attack; the combat jet could carry unguided bombs and rockets and a belly cannon pod.
There have been previous sightings of armed drones in the neighbouring state of Kaduna, where the Air Force operates several combat and non-combat aircraft. The military, over the past months, has expanded the use of drones for combat operations in the Northeast and Northwest.
A senior official was quoted by Premium Times to have said that the air force had been monitoring the community since Friday; But when they had precise information and moved in, the high value target was not caught in the raid.
He was also said to have revealed that the attack involved a Mi 17 and Alpha jet and another aircraft providing surveillance.
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