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The military has neutralised 103 terrorists in seven precision air strikes targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) positions and logistics facilities in the North-East within eight days.
The strikes, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were conducted between Oct. 10 and Oct. 18 by Operation Hadin Kai, using Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment and Air Component assets.
Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Captain Mohammed Goni, said this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
He said the operations targeted terrorist locations around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku in Borno and Adamawa states.
Goni said a major success was recorded on Oct. 18 when an air strike targeted the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, identified as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno local government area of Borno state.
He said subsequent human intelligence confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, reportedly the senior terrorist’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other fighters.
According to him, the strike destroyed the targeted structure and logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles.
He said the operation was intended to disrupt terrorist leadership, logistics networks and the use of the location as a safe haven.
Goni said another significant operation occurred on Oct. 13 when an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset tracked 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles.
He said the gathering was located about 23 kilometers east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
According to him, a subsequent precision strike resulted in the assessed neutralisation of about 30 terrorists, while the extent of damage to the motorcycles remained unconfirmed.
The military spokesperson said other strikes during the period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali on Oct. 10, Badu on Oct. 11, Mairari and an area east of Badu on Oct. 13, and Duste Uku in Adamawa on Oct. 16.
He said the seven strikes collectively disrupted terrorist concentrations, command structures and logistics networks across the theatre.
Goni said Operation Hadin Kai would sustain intelligence-led operations and coordination among air and ground forces to deny terrorists safe havens and improve security across the North-East.
…NAF unveils vehicles for air warfare
Similarly, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has unveiled new vehicles to boost Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre operations.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who unveiled the vehicles Tuesday in Abuja, said ambiguity of contemporary warfare demanded development of relevant doctrines and innovative operational thinking.
Aneke, represented by the Chief of Logistics, NAF Headquarters, AVM Henry Yurkusi, said the vehicles include four Toyota Camry and a Coaster bus.
He said the demands of modern warfare required not only capable aircraft and modern equipment, but also sound doctrines, effective professional military education, informed operational planning and institutions capable of translating operational lessons into improved combat effectiveness.
“The air warfare and doctrine centre occupies an important position in this process. Its responsibilities in doctrinal development, research and professional military education are central to our institutional goals.
”The centre’s outputs help shape how we understand air power, prepare personnel and respond to emerging operational requirements,” he said.
The CAS said the vehicles represented a critical investment in institutional capacity of the centre.
According to him, beyond their immediate transportation function, they will improve the centre’s ability to coordinate operational engagements, supervise activities, support training programmes and facilitate other essential assignments.
“While these vehicles may appear to be a modest addition to the centre’s overall inventory, their value lies in how effectively they support the work for which the centre was established.
“I therefore charge the Commandant to establish effective arrangements for control, maintenance and utilisation of these vehicles.
“Their deployment must be guided by operational priorities, while accountability and adherence to regulations must remain paramount,” the CAS said.
Aneke reiterated the commitment of the current administration to personnel welfare, urging officers, airmen and airwomen of the centre to remain disciplined, law-abiding and professional.
Earlier, the Commandant of the centre, AVM Garba Jibia, said the centre was established to provide the conceptual component of NAF’s fighting power and to form an integral part of its operations.
Jibia listed the five core mandates of the centre to include review and development of NAF doctrines and employment concepts, teaching of doctrines and operational competences, and coordination of joint and single service operational exercises.
Others, he said, were advising appropriate superior authority on operational readiness of platforms, systems and units, as well as review and development of Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for operational units.
He said the centre had been given additional mandate of coordinating air-ground integration and civilian harm mitigation for the Armed Forces of Nigeria in a bid to enhance jointness in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The commandant thanked the CAS for allocating the vehicles to ease personnel movement and according staff cars to directors of the centre.
According to him, the gesture has not only solved logistical problems but restored dignity, morale and pride to deserving officers and personnel.
”These vehicles you have donated to us are more than means of transportation; they are assurances that hard work is recognised by visionary leaders who know that troops’ prestige and motivation are force multipliers, especially in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
”We assure you that these vehicles will be well maintained, properly used and deployed strictly to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery,” he said. (NAN)
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