At least 22 terrorists said to be loyal to the late Katsina kingpin, Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been killed in air strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), military sources said yesterday.

The airstrikes, It was gathered, were conducted on Monday by the air component, Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia Local Government Areas (LGA) of Katsina State.

Abdulkareen Boss, a notorious terrorist alleged to have masterminded the murder of a police Area Commander at Dutsin ma in July last year, as well as the attack on the advance party convoy of then President Muhammadu Buhari was killed last August at Ruga Forest, Katsina State, along with some of his commanders.

Monday’s airstrike, it was gathered, followed intelligence reports that the terrorists had carried out several abductions, rustled cattle and violently attacked communities in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.

There was said to be credible information on a large number of suspected terrorists hibernating at SOLA POI II and attacking commuters along Jibia-Katsina road.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the air strikes but declined further comments on the incident.

According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since assumption of office, directed all air component commanders to synergise their efforts with other security agencies and bring to bear NAF’s fire power on all terrorists’ targets and their enclaves.

Gabkwet said: “That we are now hearing some of these terrorists are seeking for a negotiated end to their meaningless war on innocent Nigerians speaks volume of the outcome of the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff to the various air component commanders.” (The Nation)