The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has neutralised 32 Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents following a coordinated night attack on Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Zagazola gathered that the attack, which occurred on Sept. 18 at about 10:15 p.m., targeted Bula Yobe Forward Operating Base (FOB), 152 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, and the Divisional Police Headquarters in Banki.

One soldiers and a nine-year-old boy, identified as Ismail Abubakar, were killed during the assault, while three unserviceable military vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists.

According to sources, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai was tasked after ground troops in Bula Yobe and Banki came under heavy attack.

An Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, Grey Raptor, was deployed to track the movement of the insurgents after withdrew northwards from Banki.

Guided by the ISR feed, two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft carried out three successive air interdiction passes, engaging terrorists moving along a track and others gathered at two separate assembly points with logistics.

The coordinated strikes neutralised more than 25 insurgents in the assembly areas and others on the move, bringing the total figure to 32.

The bodies of the two fallen soldiers were evacuated to the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, while that of the minor was released to relatives for burial in line with Islamic rites.

To stabilise the area, additional reinforcements, have been deployed to Banki and its environs. (Zagazola)

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