Nigerian Air Force has declared that troops of Air Task Force, Operation Lafiya Dole attacked over 33 different Boko Haram targets, killed scores of terrorist fighters and flown close to 1,700 hours in the last 4 months.
The operation is part of its sustained efforts to eliminate the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists and other terrorists’ groups in the Northeast.
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement explained that CAS tasked
personnel to stay safe and follow all the guidelines, stipulated by both national and state authorities, to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Service further hinted that the success was achieved in 889 Air Interdiction (AI); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); Battle Damage Assessment (BDA); Close Air Support as well as Tactical Airlift missions executed in 1,075 sorties with about 1.6 Million litres of Jet A-1 fuel expended from 1 January 2020 till date.
The Air Task Force (ATF) Commander, Air Commodore Precious Amadi disclosed this while briefing the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the CAS’ Operational visit to Headquarters ATF Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Maiduguri.
The Commander noted that the ATF had continued to pursue its mandate of contributing to the total defeat of the BHTs in order to bring peace to the North East.
According to him, “In the First Quarter of 2020, the ATF had conducted several subsidiary independent operations including Operations Rattle Snake 2 & 3 and Operation Decisive Edge, while also providing effective support for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and allied partners in order to decimate, dislocate and deny the BHTs freedom of action. thye ATF, with its sustained aerial bombardments of identified BHT targets, has continued to shape the battlespace to create the enabling environment for the Land Component of Operation Lafiya Dole to operate more effectively as evidenced by the successes recorded in the ongoing joint subsidiary operation, codenamed Operation Kantana Jimlan”.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar expressed delight with what was achieved within the period.
He applauded the Commander as well as his officers and men for the successes recorded, noting that, as a result of the air operations conducted by the ATF, several top BHT and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) leaders were killed while their camps and logistics facilities were destroyed, thereby curtailing their operations.
He however, charged the officers and men not to rest on their oars but remain resolute to ensure total defeat of the insurgents.