Military bombards B’Haram out of Borno camp

Boko Haram insurgents in Iza, a community in Borno state, have “abandoned their camp” as a result of series of air strikes from the Nigerian air force.

According to Ayodele Famuyiwa, spokesman of the force, Mi-35 Helicopter gunships were used in the operation, which forced the militants to relocate to Sambisa forest.

He said troops of the 121 task force battalion of the Nigerian army assisted in the operation.

“Boko Haram Terrorists have abandoned their camp at Iza, Borno State and fled into Samba Forest after their location came under heavy air attacks by the Alpha Jets of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said in a statement.

“The success of the air attack the paved way for the follow-up clearance operation by troops of the 121 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian army.

“The ground troops were said to have consolidated on the gains of the air strikes to flush out the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists as well as destroy their leftover camps.

“During the ground movement, the Mi-35 Helicopter gunships were overhead to provide close air support for the advancing troops, while the Beechcraft aircraft supported with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

“The combined air and land operation against the Boko Haram sect was conducted during the early hours of Tuesday.

“The fall of Iza and its liberation by troops further attests to the recent gains recorded by the military in the combined efforts to rid the country of the menace posed by the religious sect.”