The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout and neutralized some of its leaders and fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.
According to the statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the operation was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted yesterday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the Magari settlement on Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over the weekend confirmed the increased level of human activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high-level leaders of the Sect.
Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the identified compounds within the Magari settlement.
Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the vicinity of the compounds. The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded direct hits on the target compounds resulting in the destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames. Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.
The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.