Military Commences Aerial Assault on Terrorists' Bunkers

Thisday Newspaper, 17 Aug 2015

After a lull in its aerial campaign against Boko Haram terrorist camps, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out fresh air strikes targeted at terrorists’ bunkers in Sambisa forest. Military sources said the targeted strikes were aimed at hidden supply routes and fortified terrorist enclaves which were exposed after the sustained military offensive few months back and reliable intelligence that accompanied the mop up operations. A statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said the strikes on Sambisa forest which were carried out by F-7NI and Alpha Jet fighter aircraft, as well as attack helicopters, came after several weeks of tactical reconnaissance by the reconnaissance/surveillance aircraft. A statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said the strike missions, which were carried out by F-7NI and Alpha Jet fighter aircraft, as well as attack helicopters, came after several weeks of tactical reconnaissance by the reconnaissance/surveillance aircraft. The NAF spokesman said the fresh aerial assault were in pursuit of the Nigerian military’s resolution to incapacitate and further degrade the fighting spirit of the Boko Haram terrorist group. Noting that the aerial campaign has resulted in the degradation of the terrorists capabilities and destruction of some of their strongholds, Alonge said, "Intelligence report revealed that as aftermath of the strike missions, the terrorists havd been confined and their capabilities greatly reduced, thereby restricting their nefarious activities to small scale attacks and suicide bombings.” The statement from the NAF headquarters quoted the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, as assuring Nigerians that the fresh campaign would be sustained until Boko Haram activities becomes a thing of the past. Abubakar was further quoted as saying that with the support of Nigerians, the NAF was “willing, able and ready to meet up with current and future security challenges of the nation.” Also, security sources disclosed to THISDAY that the air force was approaching its optimum operational capacity following the completion of repairs and upgrade of some of its platforms. In a related development, security sources noted that the air force was fully mobilised to specifically target identified Boko Haram supply routes and bunkers. They noted that hidden supply routes and camouflaged terrorist enclaves were exposed after the sustained military offensive few months back and reliable intelligence that accompanied the mop up operations. "I can tell you that the air force is over 80 per cent, and going to 90 per cent fully operational, one of the highest capacities for a very long time. The order now, and with enhanced intelligence, is to target and cut off the Boko Haram supply routes," a source said. "We just saw the Air Force F7 jets, two of them came in today showing there is improvement now. We have the fighters in dozens in Makurdi and they are coming in to fight," another military source in the battle front said. The NAF had last week deployed additional combat platforms to the North-east in support of the ongoing counter-insurgency operation codenamed ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’. Alonge , who made the disclosure in a statement, had said that the new deployment came on the heels of the recent visit of the Chief of the Air Force to the operational areas, and in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate to bring an end to insurgency in the North-East. He listed the newly deployed platforms to include the F-7Ni fighter aircraft, Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, Agusta 109 LUH, Supa Puma Combat Support helicopter and ATR-42 surveillance aircraft which hitherto had been away for scheduled maintenance. Also yesterday, National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen. Babagana Monguno, led the security chiefs on a visit to assess the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and security situation on the ground in Borno State. This came barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari decorated the service chiefs - Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar, as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase - with their new ranks. Monguno, who spoke in Kanuri to elderly and young internally displaced persons in Konduga, and Dalori , on Friday said: “Kanade guno, Afiso karengun dagin, Insha Allah” which literally means “Exercise patience everything will come to an end soon, by the grace of God.” He assured the IDPs that with the appointment of intelligent and competent service chiefs, the military would comply with the directive of President Buhari in ending the Boko Haram insurgency as soon as possible. The NSA, whose office is the statutory coordinating body for all security and law enforcement agencies in the prevention and combating acts of terrorism, said the purpose of the visit was to re-assess the operational situation on ground with a view to effecting the required changes at the strategic operational and tactical levels that will ensure smooth operations of intelligence, aerial and ground troops to put an end to terrorism. While reaffirming the commitment of the military to end the atrocities of Boko Haram terrorists by the end of the year, he insisted that the citizens and residents should always provide necessary information on suspicious movement, objects and strange people to security agencies. Meanwhile, the attempt by a suicide bomber to attack and wreak havoc on Rumirgo Market in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State this morning was thwarted by a gallant vigilante group member popularly referred to as 'Civilian JTF'. This was disclosed yesterday in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman. Usman said the suspected suicide bomber heading to Rumirgo market was accosted by the vigilant and security conscious vigilante. In the process of interrogation, he said, the suspected terrorist blew himself off and died on the spot. The Army Spokesman however revealed that the vigilante member sustained injuries and had been rushed to hospital for medical treatment by troops. He assured that "the situation is under control as people go about their normal businesses". Usman also said the Nigerian Troops had been placed on maximum alert to forestall further attack. "We want to seize this opportunity to call on the public to continue to be more vigilant and security conscious, " he urged. In another development, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has made a strong case for the establishment of special anti-terrorism courts to strengthen the war against terrorism and insurgency in Africa. Ekweremadu made the call at the 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) African Regional Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, with the theme: “Democracy and Development in Africa: Policy Options in the Post-Millennium Development Goal Framework.” According to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu spoke on the sub-theme; “The Role of Parliament in Tackling the Menace of Terrorism on the Continent of Africa,” with a warning that terrorism in Africa is spreading beyond discovery. Ekweremadu, the statement added, said penetration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into Africa gave terrorist groups the opportunity to mobilise, train, establish, and maintain cells and links without the physical obstacles of borders. He called on African nations to pay attention to judicial reforms as they embark on reform of legal frameworks and institutions to fight terrorism. “Our courts and judges are overwhelmed by lawsuits and the wheels of justice grind very slowly in most African countries. There is also the issue of the suitability of our conventional courts in terms of security for the trial of such high profile crimes. “We should therefore consider amending our laws to set up special courts to try terrorism suspects. If punishments were to be swiftly meted out to offenders, it would deter prospective terrorists and their sponsors,” he was quoted as saying. He expressed strong beliefs that besides lawmaking, African parliaments could contribute immensely to the war against terrorism by effectively utilising the powers of oversight, appropriation, approval of certain appointments, ratification of international treaties and conventions on terrorism. Other measures, he suggested, were approval of special measures like state of emergency as well as the legislative instruments of parliamentary instruments of resolutions, investigations and public enlightenment to counter radicalisation as well as the manipulation of religious, political and ethnic sentiments by terrorists to promote their evil agenda.