By Augustine Osayande
Alpha Jet Aircraft belonging to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has neutralized scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) while providing Close Air Support (CAS) to ground troops.
Confirming the report on Tuesday, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said the successful air strike by the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft followed calls from the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) that troops conducting clearance operations at Koleram in Marte local Government Area of Borno State had come in contact with BHTs.
Adesanya added that the GOC requested for support from the NAF and the Alpha Jet aircraft was immediately scrambled to provide Close Air Support (CAS). “On arrival over the location, there were exchanges of fire between BHTs and our ground forces. The crew of a Nigerien Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft established contact with the ground troops and guided the Alpha Jet aircraft crew to the major source of fire from the BHTs, which was seen coming from a particular settlement” Adesanya said.
The Nigerian Air Force spokesman further stated that the Alpha Jet aircraft engaged the target with rockets and cannons thus neutralizing the BHTs and destroying their weapons. “The Air Task Force will continue to conduct missions, on request, in support of the efforts of our troops in the counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast” he said.
