Nigerian troops raid Sambisa forest, kill many insurgents – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said a combined operation by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the ground troops have resulted in the death of a large number of insurgents at the dreaded Sambisa Forest enclave of the Boko Haram and parts of Gwoza.

The Punch had reported exclusively on Thursday, February 12, that the Nigerian Air Force had commenced intensive air strike on locations within the Sambisa forest for ground troops to move.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Thursday that the air strikes which hit targets with precision inflicted a heavy casualty figure on the insurgents.

He said strikes targeted the training facilities and logistic dumps of the insurgents.

According to him, several of the insurgents were scampering all over the areas hit by the fighter jets in Sambisa.

The Defence Spokesman, who said the details of the casualty in the latest attack would be revealed later, added that air strikes were going on in other locations to prepare ground for the advancement of ground troops.

He said, 'A concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force is on-going in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves.

'The air strikes, which today targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa forests and parts of Gwoza, have been highly successful as it achieved the aims with required precision.

'The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded while many others are also scampering all over the forest and out of the struck bases.

'Details of casualty will be determined in subsequent phases of the operation.'