The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Wednesday said that airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE destroyed an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Training Camp, along with some of their logistics storage facilities, at Tumbun Barorowa on the fringes of Lake Chad Basin, Northeast Nigeria.
Also, the Armed Forces said that troops on raid operations at River Yo-Yo and Tachar villages in in the Northcentral region of the country killed two of the bandits operating in the area.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement that “the sustained airstrikes being conducted against terrorist elements in the North East of the Country under subsidiary Operation WUTAR TABKI have continued to yield tangible results.
“The latest of these is the destruction of an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Training Camp, along with some of their logistics storage facilities, at Tumbun Barorowa on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.
“The air interdiction mission was undertaken on 19 October 2020 sequel to credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the settlement served as venue for the training of ISWAP fighters. Confirmatory aerial surveillance missions also led to the identification of some structures under dense vegetation within the settlement where the terrorists store their small arms and logistics supplies.
“Consequently, the Air Task Force dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, whose barrage of bombs and rockets hit the target structures, some of which were seen engulfed in flames with thick black smoke. Several ISWAP fighters, who were observed firing at the attack aircraft, were also neutralized in the process.”
In another statement, General Enenche said that troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in Northcentral region “while on raid operations at River Yo-Yo and Tachar villages respectively had contact with armed bandits who opened fire as troops closed in on their position. Troops responded with superior firepower forcing the armed elements to flee into the surrounding bushes.
“The gallant troops engaged the bandits in hot pursuit following which 2 were neutralised. In the course of operation, one locally made AK 47 rifle, one magazine, 7 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one Toyota Corolla car, some substances suspected to be Indian hemp as well as charms were recovered. Troops subsequently cleared the bandits’ hideout.
“Currently, the gallant troops have dominated the area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action.”