Nigerian Air force bombards Boko Haram at Sambisa forest

Nigerian Airforce has intensified attacks against remnants of Boko Haram insurgents with devastating air strikes on their locations at the Sambisa Forest.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the objective of the strike was to create an enabling environment that would enable the Surfaces Forces to move-in and flush out the remnant of the sects from the Sambisa Forest.

He said, “The NAF, in the past one week since commencement of the operation codenamed OPERATION CRACKDOWN, has mobilised more Fighter Ground Attack aircraft, Helicopter Gunships, and Medium Lift Helicopters to give the operation the push required to flush Boko Haram terrorist from the Forest.

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“Heavy bombardment of legitimate targets has continued to create the enabling environment for ground forces to move-in. Over 100 hours have been flown in a series of air operations including Air Interdiction (AI), Close Air Support (CAS), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Logistics Resupply, and Medical/Casualty Evacuation.

Group Captain Famuyiwa added that the NAF was also involved in dropping of leaflets within and around the Sambisa Forest to encourage repentant terrorists to come out and embrace the olive branch offered by the Federal Government.

It was further learnt that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, has charged NAF personnel involved in the operation to re-double their efforts as they enter into the last phase of the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

The CAS was said to have made the call while speaking to officers and men of 75 Strike Group Yola and 79 Composite Group Maiduguri during a visit to the operational areas.