Eliminating scores of terrorists and obliterating their hideouts in Damasak and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, and the Nigerien Air Force conducted a joint operation on Tuesday.
AVM Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that these successful interdictions were carried out under the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF.
Following an attempted attack by terrorists on troops of Sector 4 of the MNJTF at Lada, a border town between Niger Republic and Nigeria, the terrorists fled across the border into Nigeria, as revealed by Gabkwet.
Tracked to two locations in Zarri village, approximately 28 kilometers east of Damasak, and Mala Alide in Mobbar areas of Borno, the fleeing terrorists were found to be hiding in the village with their motorcycles concealed under trees.
The Air Component of OPHK and the Nigerien Air Force, with the support of Niger’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, conducted airstrikes on the terrorists’ locations, as reported by Gabkwet.
Subsequent real-time ISR footage confirmed the elimination of numerous terrorists and the destruction of several structures within the targeted areas.
Through continued collaborative efforts like these, positive outcomes have been achieved on both sides of the border, leading to a decrease in terrorism and other border-crossing crimes committed by criminals attempting to evade justice, Gabkwet added.