WorldStage Newsonline– The Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE has neutralized several armed bandits at their camp in the Kuduru Forest area of Kaduna State.
This was achieved through air strikes carried out on 13 August 2020 on the heels of intelligence reports indicating the convergence of members of an Ansaru Terrorist Sect-linked bandits group, led by one Mallam Abba, at the location, the Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said in a statement at the weekend.
Enenche said, an aerial surveillance missions conducted over the area also observed several bandits, some wielding weapons, in the forest.
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets and helicopter gunships were therefore tasked to attack the location. Several of the bandits were killed as the attack aircraft strafed the area, while others attempting to escape were mopped-up in follow-on attacks.
In another development, Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, eliminated scores of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and destroyed compounds housing them at Tongule in the Lake Chad area of Northern Borno.
Enenche said this is in continuation of the air offensive against terrorist elements in the North East of the country,
According to him, the air strikes were conducted on 12 August 2020 following credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating terrorists’ activities in the village.
“Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, which showed presence of a sizable number of the ISWAP elements at designated locations in the settlement, the Air Task Force dispatched a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets to attack the location.
“The NAF Jets took turns in engaging the location scoring devastating hits on the designated targets leading to the destruction of the structures as well as the neutralization of several ISWAP fighters.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the Air Task Force for their dedication and professionalism and urges them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements in the country.”
