Nigerian Air Force Launches Follow-Up Strikes on Fleeing ISWAP Terrorists Near Kukawa
By: Zagazola Makama
In a decisive follow-up to the successful repelling of an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attack on Kukawa in Borno State, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has conducted targeted airstrikes that neutralized a large number of fleeing insurgents and recovered another gun truck.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that
Military intelligence revealed that ISWAP fighters, who had attempted an assault on Kukawa, were tracked along the Gudumbali-Kukawa road.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reconnaissance aircraft identified and pursued the fleeing insurgents, leading to precision strikes on their convergence.
Among the targets destroyed was a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), which detonated upon impact, causing a massive explosion that killed several ISWAP fighters.
As of 11:14 am local time, reports indicated that ISWAP fighters have reconvened in large numbers between Garere and Gudumbali, likely in preparation for another assault. Troops of Operation Hadin Kaihave been alerted and are maintaining heightened vigilance to preempt further threats.
The airstrikes come as a follow-up to the successful defense of Kukawa by the Nigerian Army’s Sector 3 forces and the 101 Special Forces Battalion, who repelled ISWAP’s earlier attack. The insurgents had attempted to breach military defenses using a suicide VBIED but were decisively defeated, suffering significant casualties.
