NAF Destroys BH Transport Trucks

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Agusta helicopter has intercepted and destroyed two trailers suspected to be carrying logistics support to members of the Boko Haram sect.

The helicopter that was taking part in armed reconnaissance mission around the Nigeria-Cameroon border found the trailers, which were covered and parked at different locations in the bush around the border town of Belel.

Premium Times reports that the recent air operation against the insurgents was commanded by the chief of the air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, from a NAF reconnaissance aircraft, the King Air 350i.

According to a statement issued by Air Commodore Dele Alonge, the director of air force public relations and information, Abubakar coordinated the various NAF platforms involved in the operation to provide air support to ground forces, led by the chief of the army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

During the operation, NAF 260, a Mi-24V attack helicopter was reportedly hit while one of the main rotor blades was damaged. However, the pilot managed to successfully fly the helicopter back to base to land.

The affected aircraft has been repaired and is now back in the theatre of operations.

Last week the NAF started a massive bombardment of Sambisa forest, the notorious hideout of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The strike mission began after President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to the new service chiefs to tackle terrorism within a 3-month period and the deployment of new aircraft to ensure a more effective fight.

Meanwhile, Nigerian troops are also continuing their offensive operations against the Boko Haram sect in the northeastern part of the country. On August 21 troops of 7 Brigade reportedly entered Gudumbali town in Kukawa local government area of Borno state and cleared it of insurgents.