Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, aircraft killed several terrorists in Malum forest in Kaduna State, and Bayan Ruwa hideout in Zamfara State.
The terrorists were neutralised during air interdictions conducted on Thursday, August 21, according to NAF’s spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, yesterday.
AVM Gabkwet said they were tracked, after an intelligence report, from Alawa forest in Niger State to their stronghold in Malum forest in Kaduna State.
He said: “Intelligence had revealed that most of the terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State were domiciled in Kaduna State.
“Consequently, the air component planned and executed an air interdiction mission on August 21 on terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest. Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.
“Similar strikes were also conducted in terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The terrorists were tracked to zinced-roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line northwest of the location. The targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes.”
On NAF’s operations against oil thieves and bunkerers in the Niger Delta region, AVM Gabkwet said its aircraft destroyed 25 illegal refineries and overhead tanks at Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State.
He said NAF observed some “negative” activities in the areas as a result of nefarious acts of bunkerers and oil thieves.
He said: “At Greenville, Rivers State, a leaking pipeline was observed with the leakage spreading over 150 metres radius with its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitats and farmlands.”
