By FOLUSHO ALADE,ABUJA
Air Task Force of Operation Hail Storm 2, a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralized scores of terrorists in the Lake Chad area of Borno State according to a report from the Defence Media Operations(DMO) of the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The report contained in a statement signed by MAJ GEN JOHN ENENCHE, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations said the air strikes were executed on the 29th of September 2020 after human intelligence reports.
According to ENENCHE, several terrorists were neutralized while their hideouts and logistics structures destroyed.
The statement read in full: “ Several terrorists have been neutralized and their hideouts and logistics structures destroyed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at Tumbuma Baba, one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad in Borno State, which serves as a logistics hub for Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements.
“This was achieved in air strikes executed on 29 September 2020 under the ongoing subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM 2 after Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicated that several ISWAP fighters and some of their leaders had converged in some structures concealed under the thick vegetation of the area, preparing to launch an attack.
“ The ATF therefore dispatched a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the location. The attack aircraft scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing several terrorists and destroying their structures.
“ The Armed Forces of Nigeria, operating in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders, will sustain its efforts to rid the North East zone of all terrorists and other criminal elements”.The statement said.
