The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has bombarded the enclave of leader of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), Fiya Ba Yuram, in Sambisa forest of Borno state.
The NAF fighter jets swooped on the hideouts as part of its ongoing onslaughts against terrorists in all parts of the country.
Yuram was a successor to the late Abubakar Shekau, the dreaded Boko Haram leader killed by ISWAP, a rival terror group.
But not after taking over from the late Shekau, Yuram switched allegiance to ISWAP.
The airstrike, it was gathered, was intelligence-based and successfully executed.
Confirming the development Monday, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, listed the main targets of the operation to include Tunbuns and Sambisa.
He said: “The NAF won’t however be drawn into the details of those neutralised.”
But a top military source said: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies have continued to synergize and pull their resources together towards ensuring that terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements are completely eliminated for the sake of peace and security of the nation.
“In particular, Nigerian Air Force aircraft have remained a critical factor in the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies and efforts currently ongoing in the various theatres of operation nationwide.”
Blueprint gathered that the aircraft located and was directed to the enclave of the terrorist leader in Sambisa forest before bombing the enclave which he said, was based on credible intelligence.
“Please note that the title ‘Fiya’ connotes the most senior position in the terrorists’ military leadership structure. Note also that Yuram was an ally of Shekau until his demise after which he switched allegiance to ISWAP.
“On arrival, the location was observed to be active with terrorists seen gathering. Air strikes were then authorized and carried out on the location.
An assessment of the location after the strikes revealed it to be successful, though it remained unconfirmed if Fiya Ba Yuram was among the terrorists neutralised in the strikes.
“Similar air strikes were also undertaken in the Tunbuns near Lake Chad after suspected terrorists’ activities were observed in the area believed to be a training camp.
“The targets were subsequently acquired and engulfed in flames all after. 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,” it was further gathered.
However, it could not be ascertained as at the time of this report if Yuram was among the casualties.
