Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighters are upping up its bombing campaigns against the Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists despite the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions occasioned by rainstorms and low clouds as they launched intensive air attacks alongside ground operations by the Nigerian Army.
A source noted that in coordinated Land and Air Component operations against the terrorists and their activities across all the joint operating theatres especially in Northeast, “NAF aircraft under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, while acting on credible intelligence struck a target at Somalia in Sambisa Forest suspected to be a terrorist hospital and health care facility on 9 September 2022. Somalia, a location near SAMBISA Forest, was believed to be where the terrorists have a medical facility where wounded fighters as well as those critically ill were.
“After the air strikes, several structures were observed destroyed and numerous terrorists neutralized. Air Interdiction missions were also carried out at Abdallari, a terrorist enclave located Northeast of Maiduguri on 10 September 2022. Several terrorists were also neutralized, and structures destroyed after the strike, hence degrading their capacity to attack troops.”
And in Niger and Kaduna States, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch “has continued to carry out onslaught on the terrorists’ hideouts/safe havens to decimate, degrade and deny them freedom of action. For instance, strikes were undertaken in Kaduna on 7 September 2022 following series of intelligence from various sources on terrorists’ hideouts at Gidan Waya, in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA).
“There, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch discovered terrorists’ structures hidden under clusters of trees at the location with terrorists’ activities noticed within the vicinity. Subsequently, the targets were acquired and attacked with bombs. Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) footages and feedback from locals as well as Nigerian Army troops deployment within the location revealed that the terrorists’ hideouts were destroyed while several terrorists were neutralized or suffered varying degrees of injuries.
“Air Operations was also carried out on 8 Sep 22, at Gaude, a terrorists’ hideouts at Shiroro LGA after series of intelligence confirmed that terrorists usually gather at the location for planning of their nefarious activities. Intelligence also disclosed that most attacks around Shiroro axis were mostly being orchestrated from Gaude and Kurebe. Consequently, the target was acquired with several terrorists observed at the location. Sources revealed that the hideouts were destroyed while scores of terrorists feared killed.
“Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) has sustained its onslaught against terrorists’ locations in the Northwest region. These has led to the decimation of large numbers of terrorists led by a terrorist kingpin simply known Babaru at Gidan Guga axis in Faskari LGA of Katsina State. Intelligence had revealed that the Babaru-led had reportedly dislodged the locals from the village and occupied it. Accordingly, ISR aircraft of the Air Component on 9 September 2022, were dispatched for confirmatory ISR and subsequent BDA over the location.
“Overhead the location, several terrorists were sighted within the buildings with lots of human activities. Consequently, the location was struck with bombs, rockets and cannons. An assessment of the location afterwards revealed the settlement to be in ruins with no movement in sight. In Katsina State, similar successes were also recorded same day as the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji recorded major feat with the decimation of large number of terrorists at Kawari axis in Dan Musa LGA.
“The strikes became expedient after intelligence revealed plans by terrorists to plant improvised Explosive Devices for troops deployed at Dunya Village and along Dunya – Maidabino road in Dan Musa LGA of Katsina State. The intelligence further revealed that the terrorists are based West of Kawari village. Consequently, the strikes were authourized. The Battle Damage Assessment later revealed the location in flame with few surviving terrorists seen fleeing. Reports from several sources revealed that scores of terrorists were killed in the attack.
“Air and ground operations in all the theatres is crucial towards minimizing, to a large extent the ability of the terrorists to pick on soft targets anywhere in the Country. This is because the various locations or enclaves have continued to serve as their staging and recruiting points.”
When contacted, NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the strikes in all the operating theatres and stated that, ‘For the NAF, its ability to continually dominate troubled parts of the country in collaboration with the surface forces in order to eliminate terrorist elements and restore normalcy should never be in doubt.’
The NAF Spokesperson added that “Nigerians are enjoined to continue to provide security agencies with credible intelligence that will enable the agencies track and neutralize the terrorists and all criminal elements especially as schools across the nation prepare to resume.”