Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its aircraft deployed for operation Hadin Kai has destroyed a suspected Boko Haram terrorists Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
According to a statement by NAF spokesman AVM Edward Gabkwet, the strikes were conducted on August 2, 2024 targeting terrorist enclaves at Grazah, a location in the Mandara Hills.
Gabkwet said the airstrikes were carried out after intelligence reports revealed the sighting of a possible IED factory and storage area for other logistics.
He said this IED factory was suspected to have been relocated, first from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest and finally berthing at Grazah in the Mandara Hills.
The frequent relocation of the IED factory has been attributed to the enormous fire power on terrorists’ enclaves by the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of Operation Hadin Kai.
Gabkwet said the IED factory location at Grazah had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations observed and activities of armed terrorists in the area found to be consistent with those protecting a strategic location.
He added that two gun trucks were also sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory.
“These findings thus necessitated the need for an air strike on the location in order to destroy the suspected IED factory and neutralize the terrorists. Consequently, the targets were acquired and effectively destroyed,” the statement reads.
“The aftermath of the air strikes followed by a thick cloud of smoke was indicative that the suspected IED factory, as well as the 2-gun trucks, were effectively destroyed, while several terrorists were neutralized.’’