The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its air operations in the Northeast and, in the process, neutralised scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in Tumbun Rago, a settlement at the northern fringes of Borno State bordering Lake Chad.

A press statement by Air Vice MarshalOlatokunbo Adesanya, NAFDirector of Public Relations and Information, stated: “During a routine Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission on 20 December 2017, a NAF ISR platform sighted BHT activities at Tumbun Rago, occupied by Albarnawi faction. Accordingly, fighter aircraft and helicopters were detailed for air interdiction over the location on 21 December 2017.”

The statement added: “The fighter aircraft took turns to unleash their armament on the location. Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) of the attacks revealed that the targeted BHT structures were destroyed, causing fire within the location and neutralising scores of insurgents in the process.

“Thereafter, the recently acquired helicopter gunships carried out mop-up attacks on a few fleeing insurgents. Furthermore, the following day, on 22 December 2017, the NAF neutralised a large gathering of BHTs Southeast of BOGUMERI, also in Borno State, after a convoy of BHTs on motorcycles had been trailed to the location.

“The intensification of air operations by the NAF is aimed at further reducing the will of the BHTs to continue their nefarious activities while also creating the needed advantage for own surface forces to effectively operate.”