The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its aircraft successfully targeted and eliminated several terrorists in coordinated airstrikes on hideouts in Kaduna and Zamfara states.
According to a statement from NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, the airstrikes were conducted on August 21, 2024, at Mallum Forest in Kaduna State. The operation followed intelligence reports indicating that many of the terrorists involved in recent civilian attacks, abductions, and cattle rustling within the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State had relocated to Kaduna.
The statement further detailed that additional intelligence revealed the terrorists’ movements from Alawa Forest in Niger State to their stronghold in Mallum Forest, located in the Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.
“Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on 21 Aug 24 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest.
Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike,” he said.
Also similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
He said the terrorists were tracked to zinced-roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line Northwest of the location,adding that the targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes.
Meanwhile, in the Niger Delta Region, the air component of Operation Delta Safe over Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites and overhead tanks.
According to the statement “over 25 illegal sites were destroyed,”.
He disclosed that in Greenville, Rivers State, a leaking pipeline was observed with the leakage spreading across over 150 metres radius with its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitat and farmlands.
