By Moses Adeniyi
Combined ground and air assault by security forces killed scores of Boko Haram terrorists and bandits in Borno and Kaduna states.
The Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian military said the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole eliminated several Boko Haram terrorists in an air attack on the Wamdeo-Chul axis in the Southern part of Borno.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the air strike also destroyed two gun trucks belonging to the terrorists.
Enenche said the feat was achieved on Tuesday, when the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunships was deployed to provide close air support to ground troops as they repelled terrorists.
He said the terrorists attempted to breach the two locations when the troops repelled them.
According to him, upon sighting the NAF helicopter gunships, the terrorists, mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles, attempted to beat a hasty retreat whilst firing at the attack aircraft.
“However, they were hit by the helicopters’ barrage of rocket and cannon fire, which resulted in the immobilization of two of the gun trucks, one of which was seen engulfed in flames.
“Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the attack, while a few others were mopped-up as the helicopters continued to strafe the fleeing insurgents.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government on Wednesday disclosed that armed bandits on about 50 motorcycles were sighted fleeing towards Farin Ruwa, and were struck effectively by the gunship.
The State Government disclosed that over 50 armed bandits were killed in a combined ground and air assault by security forces in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.
The state’s commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
An official on Monday disclosing how security forces killed at least 10 bandits at Kwanan Bataru, on the outskirts of Fatika in Giwa local government area of the state.
Both Giwa and Birnin Gwari are among council areas in Kaduna in the frontline of banditry.
“In an inspiring success for the security forces, over 50 bandits have been neutralised during a combined ground and air assault in the Saulawa-Farin Ruwa axis of Birnin Gwari LGA,’ Aruwan said.
“According to operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government from the Command of the Joint Operations, a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis.
“Following extensive scans, bandits were spotted on five motorcycles, about 4km east of Saulawa, waiting to ambush the ground forces. They were engaged vigorously by the helicopter gunship, and were wiped out.
“After this, armed bandits on about 50 motorcycles were sighted fleeing towards Farin Ruwa, and were struck effectively by the gunship. Fleeing remnants were mopped up by ground forces.
“A second helicopter gunship joined the operations, and many more fleeing bandits were neutralised by precise strikes. Assessment revealed that more than 50 bandits were neutralised during the joint operation.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his satisfaction at the operational feedback, and congratulated the ground troops and gunship crews on the rout. He urged them to sustain the momentum and bring even more bandits to their bitter end,” Mr Aruwan said in the statement.