Niger Ambush Terrorists Killed by Airstrikes, Confirms NAF

Confirmation has been made by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that airstrikes have successfully eliminated the terrorists responsible for the recent assault on Nigerian Army troops in Bassa, Niger State.

In a statement released on Sunday, NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet revealed that the same terrorists were also linked to the series of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents along the Pandogari-Alawa Road in the area.

The tragic ambush on April 19, which resulted in the deaths of six soldiers belonging to the 1 Division Nigerian Army in Erena and Allawa communities, was orchestrated by these terrorists.

The airstrikes were carried out on April 27 by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch, a military initiative targeting bandits and terrorists in the North Central region.

According to Gabkwet, the strikes specifically targeted the stronghold of a notorious terrorist leader known as Mallam Umar and several of his associates situated in the Alawa forest area.

“The conducted strikes came after extensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the region uncovered clusters of huts within compounds amidst dense vegetation, with armed terrorists visibly present around the location,” he stated.

He further added, “Prior intelligence had indicated that these same terrorists were behind the recent attacks on troops in Bassa Community and the numerous IED incidents on the Pandogari-Alawa Road within the same local government area.”