The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies have continued to synergize and pull their resources together towards ensuring those terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements are completely eliminated for the sake of peace and security of the nation.
In particular, Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano aircraft have remained a critical factor in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategies and efforts currently ongoing in the various theatres of operation nationwide.
Indeed as at yesterday, NAF jet under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out bombardment on terrorist’s hideout in the notorious Sambisa forest and the Tumbuns in Borno State, recording major successes and killing scores of hoodlums.
Acting on credible and actionable intelligence, it was gathered that NAF aircraft were directed to a location in Sambisa forest believed to be the enclave of notorious terrorist, Fiya Ba Yuram.
Fiya Ba Yuram is the current ISWAP leader of Sambisa forest who took over the leadership following the demise of Abubakar Shekau.
A source hinted that the title ‘Fiya’ connotes the most senior position in the terrorist’s militant hierarchy.
A source also noted that Yuram was an ally of Shekau until his death after which he switched allegiance to ISWAP. On arrival, the location was observed to be active with terrorists seen gathering.
Air bombardments were then authorized and carried out on the location. An assessment of the location after the strikes revealed it to be successful, though it has remained unclear if Fiya Ba Yuram was among the terrorists killed during the sustained bombings.
Similar air strikes were also undertaken in the Tunbuns near Lake Chad after suspected terrorists’ activities were observed in the area believed to be their training camp.
The targets were subsequently engulfed in flames. The aftermath of the airstrike revealed that pandemonium broke out as the remnant of surviving terrorists took cover under nearby trees, which were later struck by the aircraft.
The effort of the military has been applauded by pundits.
The ability of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies to pick out key terrorist targets for elimination, alongside their foot soldiers is also indicative of the credibility of the intelligence provided, a source had said.
When contacted, the Air force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the strikes stating that, ‘Yes strikes were carried out on some specific targets in the Tunbuns and Sambisa with varying degrees of successes recorded.”