Fighter Jets, Helicopter Gunship Bombard Resurgent Boko Haram Fighters in Borno

 

Nigerian Air Force on Thursday deployed two fighter jets and helicopter gunship to contain intensified activities of members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, in Borno State.

Scores of terrorists were killed in massive air strikes that destroyed structures in their hideouts.

An update on the war against insurgency in the Northeast issued by NAF headquarters said the air interdiction was conducted in Kokiwa and Bula Korege on the fringes of Sambisa forest in continuation of Operation Rattle Snake launched last Tuesday in the North-east region.

"Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralised scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and destroyed some of their structures in massive air strikes conducted yesterday at Kokiwa and Bula Korege on the fringes of the Sambisa forest in Borno State.

"The air strikes were conducted in continuation of Operation Rattle Snake after credible human intelligence reports, which were also corroborated by series of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, established that the BHTs had intensified activities in the targeted settlements with a view to launching attacks against our own troops’ locations in the area," it said.

The update released by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said: "The ATF, therefore, detailed its fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the two locations.

"The combat aircraft took turns to attack targets at both locations, scoring crucial hits on the hideouts leading to the neutralisation of several Boko Haram fighters as well as the destruction of many of their structures, some of which were seen engulfed in flames.

"The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the North-east region."