Air component of Operation Hadin Kai has reportedly eliminated a key member of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abu Asad.
Gatekeepers News reports that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reported that several terrorists were also eliminated during air strikes on their hideout at Tagoshe on Mandara Mountains in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Gabkwet said the air strikes were conducted on Friday, adding that there were one of the most successful bombardments undertaken by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai in recent times.
According to him, NAF discovered a massing of terrorists in an isolated location consisting of three zinced structures and several trees.
He stated that it was evident from the footage that the terrorists were massing up at the location for a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on troops.
Gabkwet added that over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures which also had four troop carriers.
The NAF Spokesman said, “The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures, as well as the entire troop carriers, were destroyed.
“There are also indications that Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram, as well as other terrorists like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and several fighters, were among the several terrorists eliminated in the air strike.”
Chief of Air Staff, Hasan Abubakar commended the air component commander and his men for the feat.
Abubakar urged them to continue to synergise with the land component while keeping the terrorists on their toes.
He explained that they must continue to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them by the federal government and the Nigerian people.
Abubakar said, “You must ensure that we go all out in making life unbearable for these terrorists and criminals until they surrender or are completely eliminated.”
