In what is a victory for the armed forces in the ongoing onslaught against terrorism in the northern part of the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes have destroyed terrorists’ food depot and killed scores of the criminals in the Lake Chad Basin.
A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Cdre Olusola Akinboyewa, said the airstrikes were executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (AC OPHK) on Saturday, November 23, 2024, and delivered a crushing blow to terrorist elements in Jubillaram, a notorious enclave in the Tumbuns area of the Lake Chad Basin.
He said the strategic location, which was identified through meticulous intelligence efforts, served as a critical food storage site and a sanctuary for terrorist commanders and fighters.
According to the statement, intelligence had previously linked terrorists in the location to recent attacks, including the assault on troops in Kareto on November 16, 2024.
He said: “In response, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets launched a robust air interdiction mission, destroying identified structures used as storage facilities and neutralising terrorists on-site. Mop-up operations using cannons ensured the complete elimination of fleeing hostile elements.”
The operation’s success was made possible by extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over several days, confirming the presence of active terrorist structures camouflaged under dense vegetation.
Accordingly, he said the destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, severely disrupted their logistical operations, while the killing of a significant number of fighters diminished their capacity to launch future attacks.
He reiterated that the mission demonstrated the NAF’s unwavering commitment to defending the nation and people, and supporting surface forces in counterterrorism operations.
He further assured that the NAF will sustain the robust independent and joint operations until all enemies of Nigeria’s prosperity and wellbeing were brought to justice.