The Nigerian Air Force has commenced intensified aerial offensive against Boko Haram insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.
The Director of Information and Public Relations of the NAF, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said in a statement on Saturday that the Air Force commenced the raids after weeks of reconnaissance by surveillance aircraft in the mission area.
According to him, the NAF deployed F-7NI and Alpha jets as well as attack helicopters for the operation intended to degrade the fighting capacity of the insurgents.
Alonge said the operation resulted not only in degrading the capacity of the insurgents but also culminated in the destruction of some of their strongholds.
He stated also that the aerials raids had also reduced the terrorists to the execution of small scale attacks in the area.
“The Nigerian Military in its resolution to incapacitate and further degrade the fighting spirit of Boko Haram Terrorist Group has carried out several bombings and air strike missions in Sambisa Forest.
“Intelligence report revealed that as aftermath of the strike missions, the terrorists have been confined and their capabilities greatly reduced, thereby restricting their nefarious activities to small scale attacks and suicide bombings,” the statement read.
Alonge quoted the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiqur Abubakar, as giving assurance that the current air raids would be sustained until the insurgency was brought to an end.
