Nigerian Air Force (NAF) high Command on Sunday said that in the continuation of the ongoing operations against insurgency activities in the country, different airstrikes by the Air Components of Operation Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai at the weekend hit hard on Terrorists enclaves in both Kastina and Borno, which claimed several casualties.
This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by Director of Public Relations and Information of the Service, Air Marshal Edward Gabkwet
According to the statement, “One of such strikes was carried out under Operation Hadarin Daji on 5 April 202 Structure 4 at a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area \ of Katsina.
“At the location, a set of 11 armed terrorists were sighted moving towards a mountainous area. Soon after, 2 separate sets of terrorists joined the first set of terrorists, and all were observed heading towards the same direction towards the mountainous high ground.
“The need not to let the opportunity of neutralising the terrorists thus became imperative. Subsequently, the terrorists were effectively engaged by NAF aircraft in several passes with several neutralized and the few survivors scampering in disarray”.
It added; “Airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in the early hours of 6 April 2024 at Grazah in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State also yielded the requisite outcome.
“Previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating their Improvised Explosive Devices and other ammunition.
“Recent intelligence also revealed significant terrorist activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around some makeshift structures at the location. Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the location with Battle Damage Assessment footage and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralised”.
The Service assured that “these operations, carried out deep into terrorists’ enclaves, will continue as these areas are believed to aid their recruitment, training and nurturing of potential terrorists.
It pointed out that attacking terrorist logistics hubs also helped in reducing their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop locations, and urged for more information about the activities of the Terrorists’ from the members of the general public to assist the troops in their opinions.