The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced another round of air interdiction missions codenamed ‘OPERATION FOREST STORM’ in the North East. NAF Director of Public Relations & Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, announced this in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon in Abuja.

He said: “This new phase of offensive air operations is aimed at further degrading the capabilities of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in the Sambisa general area with a view to restrict the freedom of action of the insurgents as well as neutralise any threat posed to movement of own ground forces in continuing with their rescue operations.

“The operation, which commenced about 3 days ago on 2 October 2016, is expected to last few days. During this period, the NAF would be conducting series of air interdictions to take out a number of carefully selected targets in the Sambisa Forest.”

Famuyiwa in the statement also announced that the Air Component of OPERATION DELTA SAFE has continued to rid the creeks in the Niger Delta of illegal oil refineries and barges used for carrying stolen petroleum products. “The NAF today, using the EC-135 helicopters, destroyed illegal refineries and barges along east of Isaa town, Borikiri, old Bakana as well as Bakana and Bille Communities,” the NAF Spokesman said.

“Armed patrol over the affected areas also showed other illegal human activities as people were seen digging bays to bury storage tanks, drums and jerry cans,” he added.

“While urging these criminal elements to seek legitimate means of livelihood,” the statement said that “it is pertinent to state that the NAF will not relent in its spirited effort to stamp out these acts of economic sabotage and illicit activities in the region and other parts of the country.”

•Photo shows a NAF attack helicopter on a counter-insurgency operation in Nigeria’s North-East.

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