Troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have killed 20 suspected members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) at Bukar Meram, Borno State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said Tuesday.
It said troops of Operation Hail Storm, the air task force of Operation Lafiya Dole carried out an operation on Monday at the fringes of the Lake Chad region where the terrorists including some of their leaders were killed.
A statement Tuesday by Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche said the airstrike destroyed Bukar Meram, a logistics hub of ISWAP leaders.
“In continuation of air strikes being conducted under subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has successfully neutralised some ISWAP Commanders and knocked out logistics facilities at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad in Borno State, while also neutralising several terrorists at Dole, a settlement in the Southern part of Borno State.
“The air interdiction missions were executed on August 17, on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating a resurgence of terrorists’ activities in the two settlements.
“Bukar Meram, a major ISWAP logistics hub linking other Island settlements of the Lake Chad, which also houses several of their fighters and some of their key leaders, was attacked by an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships which hit designated targets in the area leading to the destruction of the logistics facilities and neutralization of several of the terrorists and their leaders.
“The attack at Dole was carried out after Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions showed a buildup of activities in the area after the relocation of some terrorists from nearby settlements of Kokiwa and Yale.
“Overhead the area the ISR aircraft spotted no fewer than 20 terrorists in the area, which were taken out by the NAF attack aircraft,” he said.
The Nation
