As Operation THUNDER STRIKE 2 entered Day 5 yesterday, the Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation LAFIYA DOLE recorded another set of successful air interdiction missions against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) targets at Kollaram on the Lake Chad Green fringes as well as Bula Korege within Sambisa Forest. The attack at Kollaram was conducted following successive days of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, coupled with Human Intelligence reports, that led to the identification of a BHT hideout within the settlement. Accordingly, the ATF detailed a fighter aircraft to attack the insurgents’ hideout which was destroyed and several BHTs killed.
Further ISR missions had also observed significant BHT presence in the middle of Bula Korege on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, with several buildings identified as locations where some BHT leaders reportedly resided. Consequently, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft and 2 helicopter gunships were detailed to carry out air interdiction at the location. The attacks by the fighter jets destroyed about 12 BHT dwellings and several solar panels in the area of interest. A few BHT survivors were seen fleeing the area and appropriately engaged by the Mi-35M helicopter gunships. The NAF will sustain the momentum of the operation with a view to decimating the remnants of the insurgents.
