Airforce steps up pounding of Boko Haram in Sambisa

From Bodunrin Kayode, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Airforce has continued to support ground troops with continuous pounding of remnants of Boko haram in the Sambisa in a bid to further degrade their capacity which may lead to their total elimination on Nigerian soil.

Briefing news men in Maiduguri over the weekend, the Deputy theatre commander air component of Operation Lafia Dole, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao said that 286 operational sorties were achieved within 157,000 sq kilometres of the north east region of Nigeria within the month under review.

AVM Amao said that the exercise which spanned  from the last yulitide period till date intensified surveillance towards locating the abducted Chibok girls and other citizens that may have been abducted forcefully by the Boko Haram.

Amao further noted that the lingering pounding of the insurgents “led to the destructions of newly discovered  boko haram leadership hide outs, logistics support bases and infrastructure” which would have been utilised as they regrouped from their hideouts in sambisa forest.

From all indications, boko haram is in real disarray as could be seen from ariel bombardment pictures displayed to reporters as the bombardment targeted at Gawa, Walasa, Kote, Alagarno, Talala, Alafa north, Yele and Kumse.

Other settlements were Boko Haram were caught unawares especially during night poundings include, a location south of Arra in the Sambisa forest where some important leaders held sway in their plots, Dure Takwalla, Gadzama, Ngwalimiri and Ajigin.

The deputy theatre commander said that several armed  reconnaissance and border patrol missions were conducted at the massive Sambisa forest especially around Bitta, Gulumba, Gana, Sigel, Damasak, Kumshe, Yajiwa, Asaga, Tumbun, Gini and Mada towns among others.

The Sambisa forest where the insurgents have been regrouping spans over five states in the north east of Nigeria.

Present at the briefing were the deputy theatre commanders for marine services and land.