•Air Force bombs Sambisa forest in fresh onslaught
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said yesterday that the military thwarted plans by some “evil men” to disrupt the Eid El Kabir celebrations.
Air Marshal Abubakar spoke while celebrating Sallah with troops attached to the Air Component Command of Operation Lafiya Dole at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Yola, Adamawa State.
He spoke as the air force launched a fresh raid on Garin Maloma area in Sambisa Forest on Eid el Kabir day.
The raid followed the sighting, by an air force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (iSR) platform, of Boko Haram terrorists gathered under a tree in the area.
Abubakar said that the Air Force, in a joint operation with the army, succeeded in destroying insurgents’ hideouts, thus scuttling their plans to attack communities during the Eid el Kabir. “Boko Haram insurgents planned to destabilize the Sallah celebration, but with help of the Almighty Allah and our collective efforts, we foiled their plans,” he said.
“Our objective is to protect life and property, safeguard the national territorial integrity and make our communities safe so that farmers can go back to their settlements and cultivate their farmlands.
“We will remain in the forest to protect our people. “The insurgents are on the run due to concerted military efforts; the only option left for them is to surrender.”
He appreciated the efforts of the troops in the fight against insurgency and assured them that the military would improve their welfare.
The air chief was also pleased with the progress being made in the counter-terrorism war and asked the troops to redouble their efforts in planning and coordinating with other agencies.
He announced the establishment of two new commands – the Special Operations Command and the Ground Training Command – which he said would help to improve troops’ capacity in the terror fight.
He also reiterated the commitment of the military to the safety of Nigerians, noting that the war against Boko Haram insurgency would soon be over.
Abubakar, who visited the troops in company of some senior officers from the Air Force Headquarters, was received by Air Commodore Abdullahi Kassimu of the 103 Basic Service Group, Yola.
He also inspected a guard mounted by the troops in his honour after which he proceeded to enjoy Sallah meals with the troops.
On the air raid of Sambisa forest,the Air Force said the operation was conducted by a combination of the NAF’s F7-Ni, Alpha Jet and L-39 ZA aircraft.
It said “the Alpha Jet aircraft attacked the target with bombs, neutralising many of the BHTs. “Thereafter, the F-Ni aircraft immediately conducted a bomb attack, which resulted in the death of more BHTs.
“The L-39ZA aircraft then followed through by strafing fleeing terrorists with rockets, killing most of them in the process.
“After the attacks, a few BHT survivors were seen scampering from the location.”