Concerted efforts by the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army yesterday led to the recapture of Dikwa town in Borno State from Boko Haram insurgents.

It was the first of such a development since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief on May 29 and with a vow to crush the six-year insurgency. Buhari, a retired Army General, has since rejigged the war on terror, including relocating the war control centre from the capital city of Abuja to the Borno State capital, Maiduguri.

A combination of the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet and surveillance aircraft jointly destroyed three ambush points heavily fortified with vehicle-mounted Anti-Aircraft Guns.

This paved the way for the Nigerian Army to move in and recapture the town with less resistance. Cordon and search operations are currently on-going in the town by the Nigerian Army.

Director, Public Relations of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, confirmed this development.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar has, concluded his tour of operational units to ascertain the state of equipment and morale of troops, especially those involved in the counter-insurgency operation against Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.

AVM Abubakar disclosed that the purpose of his visit was to obtain first-hand information about the operational readiness of the men and equipment with a view to enabling the NAF to re-equip and restrategise for operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Units visited by the CAS include 64 Air Defence Group, Makurdi; 75 Strike Group, Yola; 97 Special Operational Group, Port-Harcourt and 99 Air Combat Training Group, Kainji.

•Photo shows President Buhari.

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