The Nigerian Air Force has announced the killing of scores of terrorists following a precision airstrike carried out at Metele in the Northern Tumbuns area of the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was conducted in the early hours of Wednesday after intelligence reports identified increased terrorist activity in the area.
According to Ejodame, credible intelligence and follow-up Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions confirmed the presence of a senior terrorist commander, terrorist hideouts and other hostile elements operating within the location.
Acting on the intelligence, NAF air assets were deployed to engage the identified targets. Aircrew reportedly observed significant movement around concealed structures on arrival, which further confirmed the presence of terrorists.
Following positive identification of the targets, the aircraft carried out precision strikes on the designated locations. The operation, according to the Air Force, resulted in the destruction of terrorist infrastructure and hideouts.
A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment later confirmed that the targeted enclave had been destroyed and that scores of terrorists were neutralised during the operation.
Reacting to the development, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the personnel involved and reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups. He said the NAF would continue to deploy its air power capabilities to locate, strike and eliminate terrorist targets while denying criminal elements safe havens across the country.
