The Nigerian Air Force has carried out airstrikes believed to have eliminated the terrorists responsible for the deadly raid on Allawa community in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area.
Days after soldiers withdrew, the terrorists invaded Allawa and surrounding villages, looting foodstuffs, livestock and valuables from defenseless residents who had fled.
However, the NAF said airstrikes on Saturday targeted the Alawa forest stronghold of a notorious kingpin known as Mallam Umar and other commanders.
According to the Air Force spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet on Sunday, prior intelligence confirmed these same terrorists ambushed troops in Bassa, planted IEDs on the Pandogari-Alawa road, and raided the civilian communities.
The precise bombings were conducted under Operation Whirl Punch after surveillance revealed the terrorists’ hideouts amid clusters of huts and armed fighters in the area.
He said: “The strikes conducted were sequel to extensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, operations in the targeted area, revealing clusters of huts within compounds amidst dense vegetation, with significant presence of armed terrorists loitering around the vicinity.
“Also, painstaking intelligence earlier gathered had confirmed that these same terrorists were responsible for the recent attacks on ground troops at Bassa Community as well as multiple Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, incidents along the Pandogari-Alawa Road within the same LGA.”
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