ATF attacks 33 Boko Haram locations in 4 months, kills score of terrorists
Nigerian Air Force said that troops of the Air Task Force, Operation Lafiya Dole attacked over 33 different Boko Haram targets, killed scores of terrorist fighters, and flown close to 1,700 hours in the last 4 months.
The hierarchy of the Air Force said the operation was part of its sustained efforts to eliminate the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists and other terrorists groups in Northeast Nigeria.
This the Service said was achieved in 889 Air Interdiction, AI; Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR; Battle Damage Assessment, BDA; Close Air Support as well as Tactical Airlift missions executed in 1,075 sorties with about 1.6 Million litres of Jet A-1 fuel expended from 1 January 2020 till date.
The Air Task Force, ATF Commander, Air Commodore Precious Amadi made this disclosure, while briefing the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the CAS’ Operational visit to Headquarters ATF Nigerian Air Force, NAF Base, Maiduguri.
The Commander noted that the ATF had continued to pursue its mandate of contributing to the total defeat of the terrorists in order to bring peace to the North East.
According to him, “In the First Quarter of 2020, the ATF had conducted several subsidiary independent operations including Operations Rattle Snake 2 & 3 and Operation Decisive Edge, while also providing effective support for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and allied partners in order to decimate, dislocate and deny the BHTs freedom of action. the ATF, with its sustained aerial bombardments of identified BHT targets, has continued to shape the battlespace to create the enabling environment for the Land Component of Operation Lafiya Dole to operate more effectively as evidenced by the successes recorded in the ongoing joint subsidiary operation, codenamed Operation Kantana Jimlan”.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar expressed delight with what was achieved within the period.
He applauded the Commander, as well as his officers and men for the successes, recorded, noting that, as a result of the air operations conducted by the ATF, several top BHT and Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP leaders were killed while their camps and logistics facilities were destroyed, thereby curtailing their operations.
He however, charged the officers and men not to rest on their oars, but rather, they should remain resolute to ensure total defeat of the insurgents.
Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who provided detail of the operational visit in a statement said that CAS tasked personnel to stay safe and follow all the guidelines, stipulated by both national and state authorities, to curb the spread of COVID-19.