The Nigerian Armed Forces on Monday said that its Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed the dwellings of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) leaders and “neutralized” some of their fighters in separate air strikes conducted at Parisu and Bula Bello in the Sambisa Forest Area of Borno State.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement that the air interdiction missions were executed on 3 July 2020 as part of the ongoing subsidiary Operation LONG REACH II after intelligence reports indicated a resurgence of terrorists’ activities in the two settlements.
General Enenche said that until the airstrikes, Parisu had booby-trapped access routes, fortified check points and structures camouflaged under the forest vegetation and served as a stronghold for the BHT Commanders.
He added that recent aerial surveillance missions showed increased activities of the terrorists in a cluster of structures in the middle of Bula Bello.
Consequently, the Defence Spokesperson stated, “the Air Task Force dispatched its fighter jets to attack the 2 locations. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets, while taking turns to engage the targets, scored accurate bomb and rocket strikes, resulting in the destruction of some of the structures as well as the killing of several terrorists.”
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the ATF for their dedication, dexterity 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.