NAF kills ‘scores’ of ISWAP fighters, destroys explosive factory in air raids

Scores of fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) have been reportedly killed in military airstrikes.

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, a factory used in making vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED) in the Tumbun area near Lake Chad, was also destroyed in the air raid.

The strikes were said to have been coordinated by the north-east joint task force component of Operation Hadin Kai on Wednesday.

Zagazola Makama said the Nigerian forces staged the assault after gathering intelligence that ISWAP had prepared and positioned highly volatile SVBIEDs with the intention of deploying them at troops located in Arege in Abadam LGA of Borno.

The publication added that “a military source said that the strikes were part of retaliatory air strikes on terrorists after their attempted attack on a Nigerian Army location in Mallam Fatori”.

“Similarly, it was gathered that a NAF aircraft under the air component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out a series of air strikes on terrorists’ locations in the Tumbun Shittu near Lake Chad which has been confirmed very successful as many other terrorists were neutralised,” Zagazola wrote.

“Since June 6, 2023, the Nigerian Airforce has intensified air offensive operations in the north-east under the nickname: Operation Warun 3, which led to the elimination of more than one hundred Boko Haram terrorists, unit commanders and high-value fighters in Mandara mountain in Gwoza LGA.”