The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force of Operation “LAFIYA DOLE” has commenced an intensive bombardment of insurgents’ hideouts in northern Borno State and the Sambisa general area.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Adesanya said that, on the first day of the Operation RUWAN WUTA 3, an air interdiction mission was conducted on insurgents’ hideout in Kolaram, 37 kilometres east of Monguno.

“Previous Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF platforms had revealed Kolaram to be an active Boko Haram terrorists’ location from where the terrorists had launched attacks on our surface forces in northern Borno.

“Accordingly, two NAF helicopters were detailed for a pre-dawn attack on the settlement, followed by another wave of attacks from four fighter aircraft.

“Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) showed that several structures were destroyed, causing fire within the settlement, while some insurgents were killed in the process.

“On the same day, one NAF helicopter and some fighter aircraft attacked an adjoining settlement southeast of Kolaram, targeting structures that had been observed to host significant insurgents activities,” NAF spokesman further said.

He explained that the targeted insurgents’ structures were destroyed and engulfed in fire, killing the terrorists hiding in them.

The Director explained further that during the attacks on Kolaram and southeast of Kolaram, some escaping insurgents were tracked as they fled northwards to Jubilaram, 38 kilometres northeast of Monguno.

“Accordingly, another wave of air interdiction was launched on the location, which was also found to be active with insurgents’ activities.

“Four NAF fighter aircraft took turns to attack structures occupied by insurgents’ elements in the settlement.

“Subsequent BDA revealed that the attacks resulted in a large part of the settlement being engulfed in fire, thereby destroying the insurgents’ structures and neutralising the fleeing ones. (NAN)

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