F-7Ni fighter aircraft strikes Boko Haram location in Borno

The Air Component of Operetion Lafiya Dole recorded another major success on Thursday in its air campaign against Boko Haram terrorists, as 2x F-7Ni fighter aircraft struck a terrorists’ location in Northern Borno.

The location lies between Tumbum Rego and Malkonory and is about 25km from Kangarwa where own surface forces are currently harboured. The location, as can be seen from the enclosed footage, according to a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the Director of Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, harboured BHT makeshift structures and about four to six clusters of solar panels, which were used by the terrorists to power communications equipment and for lighting.

‘‘The latest strike is part of the air operations conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in support of the efforts by own surface forces and the Multi National Joint Task Force to rid the northern part of Borno State of the remnants BHTs in an operation codenamed: “Operation Gama Aiki.”

‘‘The location, prior to the strike on Thursday, had been under surveillance for sometime, but was reported active by a NAF Beechcraft aircraft on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission. Thereafter, the fighter aircraft were immediately scrambled for interdiction.

‘‘The success of this operation is another major setback for the BHTs, even as the NAF intensifies air operations in the North-East against the insurgents. More so, it is instructive to note that the mission, on Thursday, was conducted by a crew amid the Sallah celebration. This brings to fore the commitment of NAF personnel towards successfully bringing the hostility in the North-East to an end within the shortest possible time,’’the statement read.