By FOLUSHO ALADE, ABUJA
Air strikes from the air component of Operation Thunder Strike has destroyed bandits’ camps in the Kuduru forest area of Kaduna State.
According to a report from the Defence media Operations (DMO) of the Defence headquarters in Abuja on Sunday, the air operation also provided support for ground operations for the gallant troops and the Nigeria police force in a joint offensive in the Kofa area of the State.
The report contained in a Press release signed by MAJ GEN JOHN ENENCHE, Coordinator, Defence Media operations, the air strikes which also neutralized scores of bandits were carried out on the 5th of December, 2020 after credible intelligence reports indicated that the group of heavily armed bandits responsible for a previous attack on troops at Ngede Allah had originated from a camp within the Forest.
The statement said in full:
“The Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE, yesterday, 5 December 2020, destroyed a camp and neutralized scores of armed bandits in air strikes executed at the Kuduru Forest area of Kaduna State. This is just as it provided close air support to the Nigeria Police in a joint offensive operation to clear identified bandits’ hideouts in the Kofa Area of Kaduna State.
“ The air interdiction mission at Kuduru Forest was carried out sequel to credible intelligence reports indicating that the group of heavily armed bandits responsible for a previous attack on troops at Ngede Allah had originated from a camp within the Forest. Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that led to the identification of the camp, the Air Component dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) attack aircraft to engage the location scoring devastating hits which destroyed the bandits’ logistics structures and killed several of the criminals.
“ The NAF attack aircraft and an ISR platform later provided close air support as the Police advanced from Sarki Pawa through Tawali towards Kofa area. The attack aircraft engaged the bandits at the objective, ahead of the ground forces, while the ISR aircraft provided situational awareness throughout the operation”. The statement said.
