NAF eliminates terrorists’ hideout, burnt 18 illegal refineries

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, in a joint air strikes operation, destroyed terrorists’ hideouts in Niger and burned eighteen illegal oil refineries.

According to a press statement released on Thursday, signed by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, “the NAF in a Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) carried out air interdiction strikes on terrorists’ hideouts in Damasak and Mobbar Local Government Areas (LGA) of Borno State,” on 23, April 2024.

JOINT AIR STRIKES BY NAF AND NIGERIEN AIR FORCE ELIMINATE TERRORISTS, DESTROY HIDEOUTShttps://t.co/NMywJ4F2Df pic.twitter.com/xRO4S8I7k6

— Nigerian Air Force (@NigAirForce) April 25, 2024

The terrorists were reported to have attempted to attack troops of Sector 4 of the MNJTF at Lada, a border town between the Niger Republic and Nigeria, and subsequently fled across the border into Nigeria.

While the fleeing, eight bikes were sighted and tracked in real-time to two locations situated at Zarri village, located about 28 km east of Damasak and Mala Alide in Mobbar LGA of Borno State by the Niger’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. They were neutralised by an air strike, as confirmed by the Air Component of OPHK and Nigerien Air Force.

Following the successful joint operation between the two countries’ intelligence communities, “collaborative efforts of this nature have yielded positive outcomes on both sides of the border. It has also led to the reduction in terrorism and other forms of cross-border crimes perpetrated by criminals crisscrossing the borders to evade justice, “Gabkwet said.

Read: Deadly Dam Burst Adds to Devastation as Floods Ravage Southern Kenya

About The Author

Mayowa Durosinmi

author

M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

See author's posts