By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has launched OPERATION RATTLE SNAKE 3 against terrorists’ elements in the Northeast of the Country.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola,
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force said the
Air Interdiction Operation started on the 4th February 2020 and will target selected locations within the Northeast in order to further degrade the remnants of the terrorists as well as deny them freedom of action.
The statement said that on Day One of the Operation, air strikes by NAF attack aircraft resulted in the destruction of an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout as well as the neutralization of some of their fighters at Tongule in the Lake Chad area of Northern Borno State.
“The air strikes were executed following series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, indicating that ISWAP fighters were harboured in some buildings at the southern edge of the settlement. Accordingly, the ATF dispatched its fighter jets to engage the location, scoring accurate hits on the designated target leading to the destruction of the structures and the neutralization of some of the terrorists.
“The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its air campaign to shape the battlespace in the Northeast for the effective conduct of further ground and air operations.”
