The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday, narrated how torrential rain and the flood that accompanied it have helped the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), particularly the Air Component of Operations Hadin Kai, to enjoy advantage against terrorists in the Lake Chad region.
The Service also explained that the current successes against the terrorists, followed the forced migration of remnant terrorists to higher and drier grounds after their enclaves became flooded and exposed due to persistent rainfall in the area in recent days.
A statement by Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai successfully conducted an air interdiction mission at Jubillaram, in southern Tumbuns, which he described as a major blow to remnants of terrorists hiding in the Tumbuns near Lake Chad.
According to Gabkwet, “To confirm this, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the location on 22, 24, and 26 August 2024, which revealed several terrorists with some of their salvaged belongings tucked within four makeshift accommodations, some concealed under trees and thick vegetation. Consequently, precision airstrikes were authorized on the selected target areas, engaging and destroying most of the structures”.
The Spokesperson explained that a thick black smoke from one of the destroyed structures signified a storage area, probably designated as an armoury or a logistics storage area.
Noting that several terrorists were also neutralized in the process, Gabkwet averred that
the success of the operation was a testament to the NAF’s commitment to achieving its mandate and protecting the nation from terrorist threats.
He further explained that the excess rainfall and swampy terrain may have inadvertently pushed the terrorists out of hiding, but it was the swift and decisive action of the NAF that took advantage of the situation to strike a significant blow against them.
“It is also important to note that striking at the heart of terrorists’ enclaves in Maiduguri goes a long way in destabilizing their Center of Gravity and diminishing their capacity to cause mayhem, especially on civilian targets. These enclaves also serve as feeders to other terrorist cells operating within the region,” he said.
Gabkwet also recalled that barely 3 days that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, instructed all Air Component Commanders to intensify operations against terrorists and other criminal elements in the country, the strike at Jubillaram and other locations across the country confirmed that the directives was yielding the required outcome.
Linus Aleke
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