Air Strikes Hit Terror Camps, Insurgents in North-east
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force yesterday, struck terror camps in the North-east, killing scores of insurgents.
The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said that the air strikes were conducted in a bid to further dislodge the remnants of terrorists in the North-east and clear the region of the remaining terrorists, insurgents and other criminals.
A statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said an early morning air strike was conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai at Suwa in Kala Balge Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State on 11 September 2023.
Suwa was a stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists in Gezuwa general area near Sambisa Forest until its dislodgement by the military and other security agencies.
It said: “Recent intelligence, however, revealed the massing up of terrorists within the area with likely plans to attack troops on patrol along major routes to Bama and Mafa LGA.
“Further intelligence also revealed that the same group of terrorists had perfected plans to attack troops stationed around Rann in Kalabalge LGA.
“Accordingly, air strikes were authorised with confirmatory assessments revealing several terrorists neutralised and structures destroyed thereby degrading their ability to attack friendly forces and innocent law abiding civilians.”
The statement said it was evident that the efforts of the entire security agencies operating in the North-east had, to a large extent, yielded the requisite outcome but noted that more work was required.
It said: “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.”
It said the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to air component commanders in all joint operating theaters remained clear and unambiguous that they should “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.”
