NAF Kills Several Boko Haram Leaders

Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force yesterday struck a meeting venue of Boko Haram insurgents, killing key leaders of the sect at Alafa Yagayaga, Borno State.

The bombing which obliterated the venue of the meeting was sequel to credible intelligence that indicated that leaders of the group were gathered there for a meeting.

An update on the war against insurgency issued by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the air strike also killed many insurgents.

"The sustained onslaught against terrorist locations in the Northeast by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) under the auspices of Operation Rattle Snake 3 has recorded another major success with the neutralisation of some key Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) leaders at Alafa Yagayaga on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

"This was achieved on February 8, 2020, when fighter jets dispatched by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole obliterated a compound in the settlement where the leaders had assembled for a meeting," it said.

The statement said: "The air strike was executed on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating that the BHT leaders had converged on the targeted compound for a meeting over the weekend.

"Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, which confirmed the meeting venue, also observed several terrorists in and around other buildings in the vicinity of the area."

The NAF spokesman added that "bombs from the detailed attack aircraft scored accurate hits on the target leading to the obliteration of the compound and surrounding structures as well as the neutralisation of their BHT occupants.

"The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its air campaign to shape the battle space in the North-east region for the effective conduct of further ground and air operations.”