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The Nigerian Air Force announced on Thursday that airstrikes carried out in the Tumbuns area near Lake Chad in Borno State have killed several terrorists.
The service reported that the operation was successfully executed following the forced relocation of the remaining terrorists to higher and drier ground after their hideouts were flooded and exposed due to persistent rainfall in the area in recent days.
In a statement, NAF spokesperson AVM Edward Gabkwet confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force conducted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions over the location on 22nd, 24th, and 26th August 2024.
He added that the missions revealed several terrorists, along with some of their salvaged belongings, concealed within four makeshift shelters, some of which were hidden under trees and dense vegetation.
Gabkwet said, “In a major blow to the remnants of terrorists hiding in the Tumbuns near Lake Chad, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai successfully conducted an air interdiction mission at Jubillaram, in southern Tumbuns.
The operation was made possible following the forced migration of remaining terrorists to higher and drier ground after their enclaves became flooded and exposed due to persistent rainfall in the area in recent days.
“To confirm this, the NAF conducted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions over the location on 22nd, 24th, and 26th August 2024, which revealed several terrorists with some of their salvaged belongings tucked within four makeshift shelters, some concealed under trees and thick vegetation.”
He added that, apart from killing several terrorists, their armoury, logistics storage facilities, and other structures were also destroyed.
Gabkwet said, “Consequently, precision airstrikes were authorised on the selected target areas, engaging and destroying most of the structures. A thick black smoke from one of the destroyed structures indicated a storage area, likely designated as an armoury or logistics storage area.
Several terrorists were also neutralised in the process.
“The success of this operation is a testament to the NAF’s commitment to achieving its mandate and protecting the nation from terrorist threats. The excess rainfall and swampy terrain may have inadvertently pushed the terrorists out of hiding, but it was the swift and decisive action of the NAF that took advantage of the situation to strike a significant blow against them.
“It is also important to note that striking at the heart of terrorists’ enclaves in Maiduguri significantly destabilises their centre of gravity and diminishes their capacity to cause mayhem, especially targeting civilians. These enclaves also serve as feeders to other terrorist cells operating within the region.”
