The Air Components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the Northeast and North Central, respectively, have destroyed terrorists’ hideouts in Chinene near Mandara Mountains and Allawa near Shiroro in Niger State.
The director of public relations and information, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, said the air component at Chinene, observed the terrorists gathering for a meeting at the location tucked inside the Mandara mountain area on May 3, 2024.
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He said the terrorists were observed assembling, probably for a meeting within the same location, with 7-gun trucks also parked under trees.
He, therefore, said an air interdiction was authorised and conducted over the assembly area and tree coverings to decimate the terrorists and destroy their weapons and mobility.
“After the strike, Battle Damage Assessment footage and feedback received later revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed,” he said.
The director said similar airstrikes were conducted the same day, May 3, 2024, when the air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating in Allawa village, near Shiroro in Niger State.
Gabkwet said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence, which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.
He recalled that the terrorists had, on May 1, 2024, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro local government area and torched the Central Primary School.
Gabkwet said another group of terrorists arrived at the location in the evening of the same day, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of the same LGA.
Therefore, the air component, in order to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.
He said the aircraft, on arrival at the location, sighted several terrorists and engaged them effectively.
He added that following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location.
He said other air strikes were also carried out north of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.