War planes intensify raid on Boko Haram

From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said yesterday that it has intensified counter-insurgency offensive against Boko Haram around the border areas, destroying some camps in a sustained aerial bombardment. Group Public Relations Officer for the 79 Composite Group of the NAF, Squadron Leader Chris Erondu, said the insurgents were retreating to neighbouring Cameroon, Niger, and Chad Republic. He said ongoing bombardment against the insurgents have recorded remarkable success with heavy casualties in the enemies’ camp.

In a statement released in Maiduguri, he said: “The results of these air operations have been remarkable as the insurgents who have been retreating to Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics have suffered heavy causalities.”

He said the Composite Group in Maiduguri in conjunction with 75 Strike Group, Yola, had been providing air supports to the other sister security agencies in the state.

Erondu disclosed that air surveillance and eventual raids were carried out by troops on identified Boko Haram hide-outs at Bulabulin Yujiwa-Alagarno, around Damboa axis in the state. He said the Air Force and other security agencies were maintaining constant surveillance on Maiduguri metropolis and its environs especially with last year’s attack on its base by the insurgents.

He appealed to the residents to continue to co-operate with the security agencies in the state by providing information that could lead to identifying Boko Haram camps.

The Sun