Air task force neutralizes ISWAP terrorists, destroys hideouts in Borno

The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralized several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements and destroyed their hideouts at 1Km North of Tumbun Gini on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

This was achieved through air strikes executed on 30th December 2020, after series of aerial surveillance missions had indicated that the location, with structures and logistics items camouflaged under the dense vegetation, was being used as staging area where some ISWAP leaders and their fighters meet to plan and launch attacks.

A statement by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said the Air Task Force dispatched a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location in successive passes.

The attack according to the statement scored devastating hits in the target area, destroying some structures and neutralizing several of the ISWAP fighters while some survivors were seen fleeing the scene. Consequently, the fleeing ISWAP survivors were hit by a second rocket and subsequently moped up.

Emmanuel Ukoh