The Nigerian Armed Forces on Monday announced the execution of a new Nigerian Air Force (NAF) subsidiary Operation codenamed “HAIL STORM,” an air interdiction operation aimed at destroying identified Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs) “targets” in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State, Northeast region.
Towards this, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement that the airstrikes operation which were carried out on Sunday at the terrorists’ hideouts and logistics structures at Tumbuma Baba and Boboshe in Borno State
The Armed Forces also confirmed that three soldiers were killed in gunfight with bandits at Tashan Kare, in Niger State, Northcentral Nigeria. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the attack.
General Enenche said: “In continuation of the aggressive clearance operation to rid criminal elements out of the North-Central region of the country, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH, has recorded tremendous success against armed bandits. Following credible intelligence on the activities of armed bandits attack at Tashan Kare, in Niger State.
“Troops swiftly mobilized to the scene and made contact with the bandits.The gallant troops engaged the armed bandits with superior fire power killing unspecified number while others fled in disarray into the bushes. Sadly own troops suffered 3 casualties while 2 others were wounded in action. Exploitation is on going.”
General Enenche, in a statement on the Northeast airstrikes, stated that “the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralized scores of terrorists and destroyed their hideouts and logistics structures at Tumbuma Baba and Boboshe in Borno State. This was achieved in air strikes executed yesterday, 16 August 2020, on the first day of missions of a new subsidiary Operation codenamed “HAIL STORM”, which is an air interdiction operation aimed at taking out identified Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State.
“The attack at Tumbuma Baba, one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad, was carried out after Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicated that several ISWAP fighters and some of their leaders were harboured in some structures concealed under the thick vegetation of the area.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets dispatched by the ATF to attack the location scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing several of the terrorists and destroying their structures. Several terrorists were similarly neutralized and some of their dwellings destroyed at Boboshe, a village along the river line on the Eastern part of the Sambisa Forest, as the NAF jets took turns in engaging the location.”
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, operating in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders, will sustain its efforts to rid the North East of all terrorists and other criminal elements.”
