Scores of terrorists belonging to the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) have been killed in their hideout in Tongule, Borno State by the Nigerian Air Force fighter jets following the launch of Rattle Snake 3.
The Operation is launched under the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole.
A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, revealed that the “Air Interdiction Operation, will target selected locations within the Northeast in order to further degrade the remnants of the terrorists as well as deny them freedom of action”.
According to the statement, “on Day One of the Operation, airstrikes by NAF attack aircraft resulted in the destruction of an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout as well as the neutralization of some of their fighters at Tongule in the Lake Chad area of Northern Borno State.
“The air strikes were executed following series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, indicating that ISWAP fighters were harboured in some buildings at the southern edge of the settlement.
“Accordingly, the ATF dispatched its fighter jets to engage the location, scoring accurate hits on the designated target leading to the destruction of the structures and the neutralization of some of the terrorists.
“The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its air campaign to shape the battlespace in the Northeast for the effective conduct of further ground and air operations”.