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NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet
The Nigerian Air Force said that its air strikes have effectively destroyed a suspected Improvised Explosive Device factory, two gun trucks, and neutralised several terrorists in Grazah, Mandara mountains, Borno State.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Gabkwet said that the operation was carried out on August 2 in response to intelligence reports of a possible IED factory and logistics storage area in the location.
He said the factory was believed to have been relocated from Gwoza to the Timbuktu Triangle in the Sambisa forest and finally to Grazah in the Mandara hills.
“Frequent relocation of IED factories has been attributed to the enormous firepower on the terrorists’ enclaves by the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of the theatre of operation.
“The IED factory location at Grazah had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations observed and activities of armed terrorists in the area found to be consistent with those protecting a strategic location.
“Additionally, two gun trucks were sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory.
“These findings thus necessitated the need for an air strike on the location in order to destroy the suspected IED factory and neutralise the terrorists,” the spokesman said.
Gabkwet said the targets were acquired and effectively destroyed, adding that the thick cloud of smoke that followed the air strikes confirmed the destruction of the IED factory and the gun trucks.
Borno had in recent times recorded multiple suicide bombings, coming after a long lull in terror attacks in the North-East state.
In June multiple suicide bombings in Gwoza claimed 38 lives and left dozens injured.
Last Thursday, the police in Maiduguri said nine people were killed while 20 others were injured when Boko Haram detonated an IED in Kawuri, Konduga Local Government Area of the state.
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