Airstrikes In Borno, Rivers yield expected results —Airforce

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has said that airstrikes against terrorists, militants and oil thieves have continued unabated across the nation to deny criminals the freedom to cause havoc against innocent civilians, the environment and economy.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, revealed that in a bid to achieve the mandate of the air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), airstrikes were conducted near Arina Woje earlier yesterday, after it was confirmed that terrorists and their injured cohorts have continued to use the location in the Southern Tumbuns near Lake Tchad, as a hideout.

Gabkwet added: “Credible intelligence had further revealed that the location remained active with some other terrorists using the area to store weapons and other logistics. Consequently, approval was given for the airstrikes with resounding success recorded based on the huge cloud of smoke and fire observed as well as feedback from locals at the fringes of the location.

“It is important to note that the area was last attacked on June 13, 2023, with resounding success, but some terrorists feeling the heat from other areas returned to the location to hide.

“Several airstrikes were also carried out in the Niger Delta area, especially in Bille, a rural community in Degema Local Council of Rivers State, becoming known for illegal oil refining activities.

“One of such strikes, carried out, on Thursday, August 31, 2023, became necessary after an active illegal refining site with reservoirs and storage tanks suspected to be containing illegally refined products was observed.”

He said that the strikes aimed at denying, discouraging and destroying the activities of oil thieves, which have continued to damage the environment as well as the economy of the nation, was deemed successful.

“Airstrikes will continue in all troubled spots and areas where illegal criminal activities are known to occur. These operations will also be in liaison with other security and government agencies until the activities of these criminals are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.