An Air Force jet
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified aerial patrol over the Sambisa forest to prevent fleeing insurgents from regrouping.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, of NAF, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, stated in Abuja that the aerial patrol was against the insurgents from regrouping.
“The over 60,000 kilometres forest is being painstakingly patrolled day and night by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to deny the fleeing insurgents the opportunity to regroup.
“It is also to stop them from any attack against host communities and the surface troops who are on clearance operation,” he stated.
In a similar operation, NAF had deployed ISR platforms for surveillance activities over Samaru, Katab, Zonkwa, Kafanchan and other troubled areas in Southern part of Kaduna State, including the Kaduna metropolis.
Famuyiwa explained that the ongoing air operation was aimed at supporting the surface forces as well as restoring confidence in the people living in the affected areas.
It is also designed to sought out the hideouts used by criminal elements and armed bandits within the troubled areas.
Famuyiwa added that aside employing air power to flush out the bandits, NAF also depend on the intelligence gathered from its ISR operations to land forces to aid the conduct of the entire operations.
The military recently took over Sambisa forest, the last fortress of Boko Haram insurgents, effectively dislodging them from having any base to operate.