The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday said that its aircraft have destroyed an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) located in the terrorists’ enclave at Grazah, in the Mandara Hills.
A statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), AVM Edward Gabkwet, also said the aircraft destroyed “2-gun trucks” which “were sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory.”
According to the statement by AVM Gabkwet: “Concerned by recent attacks especially on innocent civilians in Borno State using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and suicide bombers and in a bid to achieve the mandate of the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, air strikes were conducted on terrorists’ enclaves at Grazah, a location deep in the Mandara Hills, on 2 August 2024.
“This was sequel to intelligence revealing the sighting of a possible IED factory and storage area for other logistics. For some time now, this IED factory was suspected to have been relocated, first from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest and finally berthing at Grazah in the Mandara Hills. The frequent relocation of the IED factory has been attributed to the enormous fire power on terrorists’ enclaves by the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of Operation Hadin Kai.
“The IED factory location at Grazah had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations observed and activities of armed terrorists in the area found to be consistent with those protecting a strategic location.
“Additionally, 2-gun trucks were sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory. These findings thus necessited the need for an air strike on the location in order to destroy the suspected IED factory and neutralize the terrorists. Consequently, the targets were acquired and effectively destroyed.
“The aftermath of the air strikes followed by a thick cloud of smoke was indicative that the suspected IED factory, as well as the 2-gun trucks, were effectively destroyed, while several terrorists were neutralized.”
