WorldStage Newsonline– Nigeria’s Military said it has destroyed Boko Haram Terrorist logistics base and score of their fighters neutralized during a successful airstrike in Borno State.
The Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche in a statement on Saturday said the terrorist logistics base had been destroyed and scores of their fighters neutralized in another set of successful air interdiction missions executed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the subsidiary Operation LONG REACH.
He said, “The air strikes were carried out on 25 June 2020, at Tongule and Bukar Meram in Borno State after series of surveillance missions indicated a resurgence of terrorists’ activities at the 2 settlements.
“Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets to engage the 2 locations.
” At Tongule, where recent credible intelligence indicated frequent convergence of BHTs, about 35 terrorists were spotted by the NAF surveillance aircraft in different parts of the settlement as it vectored the fighter jets to attack the target area.
“The munitions from the jets hit designated areas within the settlement, destroying some structures and taking out many of the terrorists.
“Similarly, at Bukar Meram, a BHT logistics hub on the fringes of the Lake Chad, the air strikes, which were carefully timed and executed in multiple waves for maximum effects, resulted in the obliteration of designated portions of the terrorists’ facilities. Several of their fighters were also killed in the process.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the ATF for their dedication and professionalism.
“The Defence Headquarters equally urges them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”
In another development, Troops of Operation THUNDER STRIKE under the auspices of the ongoing Operation ACCORD, foiled an attempted kidnap of passengers along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway by armed bandits on 25 June 2020.
Enenche, added that “Sequel to actionable Human Intelligence on the activities of armed bandits between Olams and Alheri camp along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, troops promptly deployed to the scene and engaged the bandits with effective firepower.”
He said the Troops overwhelmed the criminals with high-intensity fire, forcing them to abandon their heinous mission and fled into the forest in dissarray.
He said, ” As troops engaged the bandits, passengers in the targeted vehicle, a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number Lagos MUS-944FR travelling from Abuja to Kaduna, managed to escape in various directions into the surrounding bushes.
” However, the gallant troops, adopting an aggressive posture, pursued the bandits deep into the forest and inflicted fatal injuries on them while also exhibiting the requisite composure in recovering all the passengers who escaped into the bush during the encounter.
“Currently, troops are exploiting the general area of the incident, in search of the fleeing bandits with express orders to bring them into custody while aggressive patrols are underway along the axis. It is also important to state that all passengers in the targeted vehicle have been accounted for.
” Consequently, the Military High Command commends troops of Operation THUNDER STRIKE for their vigilance and professionalism exhibited during this operation. The troops are further encouraged to remain resolute in curtailing the activities of armed bandits along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
” The general public is hereby reassured of their safety while travelling along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor and indeed along all other highways across the country.”
