Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet have killed 12 terrorists and destroyed their storage base at Parisu, a location near Sambisa Forest, in Borno state.
The air bombardment was conducted on 5 January after the military observed the movement of items suspected to be weapons and ammunition to the area.
NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshall Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, 7 January.
He said the operation was part of the efforts by the military to clear the remnant of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in North East Nigeria.
Gabkwet said the military had once cleared Parisu of terrorists activities, but the convergence of terrorists within the location raised suspicion of their intent and plan, hence the directive to strike the location.
He said: “The aftermath of the strikes led to a huge ball of flames from 2 adjacent spots within the vicinity, while some surviving terrorists were observed scampering for safety.
“Feedback also revealed that 12 terrorists were neutralized in the strike, and their logistics destroyed, thereby degrading their ability to attack soft targets and own troops”.
Gabkwet said similar strikes were also carried out at a location about 1.5 km Southwest of Tumbun Agiri within the Tumbuns in the Lake Chad region on 6 January 2024.
According to NAF’s spokesperson, Gabkwet said intelligence gathered over time had revealed the continuous gathering of armed terrorists in pick-up vehicles and motorcycles, hence the go-ahead to attack the location.
He said: “The precision strikes on the location led to the destruction of the vehicles, motorcycles as well as the elimination of several terrorists.
“Prior to the aforementioned strikes, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, on an air reconnaissance mission on 2 January 2024, had struck some opportunity targets at Tumbun Alura.
“The targets, which consisted of 3 canoes, were observed loaded with suspected Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). They were subsequently engaged with a huge explosion observed afterward.
“Similar successful strikes were also conducted at Tumbun Buwari and Sabon Tumbun on terrorist structures within the Lake Chad region”.
