The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout.
NAF aircraft also neutralized some of ISWAP leaders and fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.
A statement by NAF headquarters said the decimation was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted Tuesday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the settlement on Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.
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It said, “Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over the weekend confirmed increased level of human activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high level leaders of the Sect.
“Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the identified compounds within the settlement.
“Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the vicinity of the compounds.
“The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded direct hits on the target compounds resulting in destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames.
“Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.
“The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.
Ibikunle Daramola
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force