The Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole (ATF) in Borno State has announced the killing of scores of Boko Haram terrorists, following Nigerian Air Force (NAF) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities in two villages.
The fighter jets targeted Parisu and Takwala, where terrorists resided.
NAF’s spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement at the week end.
He said the “multiple air strike operation” followed intelligence report on the presence of terrorists in some locations in the state. He said many terrorists were on Friday successfully neutralised.
“The ATF detailed two NAF Alpha Jet aircraft, armed with rockets and cannons, to interdict the locations. Overhead the objective, the NAF fighter aircraft acquired and attacked the objectives with rockets and cannons.
“At the end of the mission, it was observed that the attack platforms successfully engaged the remnants of the terrorists hibernating within the settlements and consequently neutralised them.”
Besides, troops of Operation Last Hold in the state announced that they rid farmlands and the Lake Chad Islands of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The explosives-ridden farmlands are located in eight local council areas of Gudumbali, Mobbar, Marte, Gubio, Kala/Balge, Ngala, Gubio and Abadam.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, who disclosed this while launching the operation at Gudumbali, the council headquarters of Guzamala, said the action is to fast track the movements of IDPs from camps to communities.
Buratai, who was represented by Chief of Operations and Training, Maj. Gen. David Ahmadu, said: “This operation is to move IDPs from camps to liberated communities to resume their farming and other economic activities in eight councils and the Lake Chad Islands.”
Meanwhile, fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force conducted air strikes on at least three Benue State communities on Saturday, in an operation that reportedly lasted several hours.
Reports say the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, confirmed the air strikes.
He noted that it was an ongoing operation and that he could not reveal further details.
“It is true that the NAF aircrafts are involved in an operation together with other security services in Katsina-Ala. But the operation is still ongoing and I cannot disclose further details.”
The air strikes were carried out along the Katsina-Ala to Zaki Biam and Wukari Road and that the affected villages included Gbise, Ayaka and environs.
A resident of one in Katsina-Ala said the operation could be a reprisal on hoodlums in the communities.
Some hoodlums, dressed in military camouflage, had last week attacked the Commander of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, Maj Gen John Malu in his hometown in Tse Adoor, Tiir Ward, Tongov in the Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.
“Gbise, Ayaka and other nearby villages in Katsina-Ala were on Saturday bombarded by the Air Force. These are reprisal attacks by the military to clear the hoodlums who attacked Maj Gen Malu when he was home last week.
“There were mortars, artillery pieces, assault rifles and aerial bombardments.”