The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has killed more Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed their hideouts at Bukar Meram and Tumbun Allura, on the fringes of Lake Chad, after air interdictions by Operation Thunder Strike II, it was learnt yesterday.
According to NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the air strikes were conducted after intelligence and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms established the presence of insurgents in the areas.
Daramola, in a statement, said: “In continuation of Operation Thunder Strike II, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole, yesterday (Monday), destroyed Boko Haram facilities and neutralised several insurgents at Bukar Meram and Tumbun Allura, on the fringes of Lake Chad, Borno State.
“The attack at Bukar Meram was conducted based on intelligence that insurgents were sighted within the settlement, which was also confirmed by successive days of ISR missions.
“Accordingly, the ATF detailed an Alpha Jet aircraft and helicopter gunship to carry out air interdiction and two of the identified locations were destroyed.
“Similarly, ISR missions showed that some terrorist were trying to regroup at another location in Tumbun Allura, after their bases in the settlement were destroyed on September 4.
“Consequently, the identified location within the town was attacked and destroyed by NAF Alpha Jet and F-7Ni aircraft.
“The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the momentum of Operation Thunder Strike II to destroy vestiges of the insurgents in the Lake Chad green fringes.”