Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets in conjunction with ground troops, killed several terrorists and destroyed their hospital and health care facility in Somalia, a location near Sambisa Forest where wounded fighters as well as those critically ill were treated, Blueprint has gathered.
Blueprint checks revealed Monday that, “Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, acting on credible intelligence struck a target at Somalia in Sambisa Forest suspected to be a terrorist hospital and health care facility on 9 September 2022.
“Somalia, a location near Sambisa Forest, was believed to be where the terrorists have a medical facility where wounded fighters as well as those critically ill were. After the air strikes, several structures were observed destroyed and numerous terrorists neutralised.”
Also, air Interdiction missions were also carried out at Abdallari, a terrorists’ enclave located North-east of Maiduguri on 10 September 2022. Several terrorists were also neutralised, and structures destroyed after the strike, hence degrading their capacity to attack troops.
When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the strikes in all the operating theatres, saying “for the NAF, its ability to continually dominate troubled parts of the country in collaboration with the surface forces in order to eliminate terrorist elements and restore normalcy should never be in doubt.”
He said the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) also sustained its onslaught against terrorists’ locations in the Northwest region.
These, Gabkwet said, led to the decimation of large numbers of terrorists led by a terrorist kingpin simply known as Babaru at Gidan Guga axis in Faskari local government area of Katsina state.
Intelligence had revealed that the Babaru-led group had reportedly dislodged the locals from the village and occupied it.
“Accordingly, ISR aircraft of the Air Component on 9 September, 2022 were dispatched for confirmatory ISR and subsequent BDA over the location. Overhead the location, several terrorists were sighted within the buildings with lots of human activities. Consequently, the location was struck with bombs, rockets and cannons. An assessment of the location afterwards revealed the settlement to be in ruins with no movement in sight.
“In Katsina State, similar successes were also recorded same day as the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji recorded major feat with the decimation of large number of terrorists at Kawari axis in Dan Musa LGA. The strikes became expedient after intelligence revealed plans by terrorists to plant improvised Explosive Devices for troops deployed at Dunya Village and along Dunya-Maidabino road in Dan Musa LGA of Katsina State.
“The intelligence further revealed that the terrorists are based West of Kawari village. Consequently, the strikes were authorized. The Battle Damage Assessment later revealed the location in flame with few surviving terrorists seen fleeing. Reports from several sources revealed that scores of terrorists were killed in the attack,” the source said.
Air Commodore Gabkwet enjoined Nigerians to continue to provide security agencies with credible intelligence that would enable the agencies track and neutralise the terrorists and all criminal elements especially as schools across the nation prepare to resume.
6 hostages rescued in Chikun
In a related development, troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued six kidnapped victims during clearance patrols conducted around the Kangon Kadi area in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan said this in a statement Monday in Kaduna.
He said: “According to operational feedback, the troops, under the Operation Forest Sanity, embarked on a clearance operation from Damba to Kangon Kadi, and fired on identified bandit locations around the Kangon Kadi forest, Labi and the Udawa River.
“Bandits fled from the Kangon Kadi area under the superior firepower of the troops, leaving behind six kidnapped victims at their camp. The victims were rescued by the troops, and are identified as follows: Iliya Gide, Rabi Ali, Hussaina Gide, Naomi Nuhu and her baby Pamela Barage.
“The Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, noted the report with gratitude, and commended the troops for sustaining valiant efforts across several fronts.”
