Strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have neutralised more than 18 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs at Tumbunma Baba in the Tumbuns general area of Borno State.
The operation, conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in coordination with ground troops of Sector 1, followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, the military said on Friday.
The Military Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said intelligence had indicated the presence of high-profile terrorist elements using the islands as meeting points and logistics nodes.
He said further surveillance and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted from Wednesday, September 9, pinpointed several terrorist structures and logistics hubs in the area.
According to him, the intelligence-led operation culminated in kinetic strikes in the early hours of Friday, September 11, after the targets were positively identified.
‘Following positive identification of the targets, the air platforms acquired and engaged the designated locations with precision munitions, with ground troops occupying all likely escape routes for further direct fire engagements,’ he said.
Goni said the strikes destroyed the targeted structures and ‘neutralised over 18 terrorist elements’, disrupting terrorist activities and degrading their ability to use the enclave as a gathering and support base.
He said post-strike assessment indicated an estimated 85 per cent success in achieving the intended operational objectives.
The operation, he said, underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, timely ISR confirmation and the coordinated employment of air assets in synergy with ground troops.
Goni said OPHK would continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to deny terrorists the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the North East.
‘Working in concert with all security agencies and stakeholders, OPHK will continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations to deny terrorist elements the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the Theatre,’ he said.