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The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday announced that several militants were killed in air strikes in the Tumbans area near Lake Chad in Borno State.
The operation was carried out successfully after the remaining terrorists were shifted to higher and dry places after their hideouts were submerged and exposed due to incessant rains in recent days, the service said.
In a statement, NAF spokesperson, AVM Edward Gbekwet, confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force conducted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over the location on the 22nd, 24th and 26th of August 2024.
He said the missions revealed a number of terrorists along with some of their salvaged belongings hiding in four makeshift shelters, some of which were hidden under trees and dense vegetation.
“The air component of Operation Hadin Kai successfully conducted an air interdiction mission in Jubilaram, southern Tumbens, dealing a major blow to the remnants of terrorists holed up in Tumbens near Lake Chad,” Gabquet said.
The operation was made possible after incessant rains in the recent past flooded the militants' hideouts and exposed them, forcing them to move to higher and dry places.
“To confirm this, the NAF conducted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at the location on 22, 24 and 26 August 2024, which revealed that a number of terrorists were hiding in four temporary shelters with some of their salvaged belongings, some of which were hidden under trees and dense vegetation.”
He said apart from killing several terrorists, their armoury, logistics storage facilities and other structures were also destroyed.
“As a result, precision airstrikes were carried out on selected target areas, hitting and destroying most of the structures,” Gabquet said. Thick black smoke emanating from one of the destroyed structures pointed to a storage area, which was likely designated as an arsenal or a logistics storage area.
Many terrorists were also killed in this 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. Excessive rainfall and swampy terrain may have inadvertently pushed the terrorists out of hiding, but it was the NAF’s swift and decisive action that took advantage of the situation to strike a crucial blow against them.
“It is also important to note that attacking terrorists' bases in Maiduguri significantly destabilises their centre of gravity and reduces their ability to cause devastation, especially targeting civilians. These bases also serve as feeders for other terrorist groups operating in the region.”
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