Military sources said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has destroyed a suspected terrorist hideout in Borno State in a precision air strike.
The operation was said to have been carried out in the early hours of Monday, July 20, after intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets detected suspicious activities by suspected terrorists around KLA Balia in the Lake Chad region.
A renowned security expert monitoring security operations in the North-East, Zagazola Makama, was reported to have disclosed the development in a report.
The report said the air operation was launched after receiving intelligence that suspected terrorists were at the location.
The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform, codenamed GUARDIAN, began monitoring the area at about 5.35am before the target was confirmed, the report said.
“The sources said the ISR platform codenamed GUARDIAN established overhead surveillance around 5:35 a.m. before confirming the target,” Makama said.
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After identifying the target, the military aircraft carried out a precision strike on the suspected terrorist hideout, he added.
He said the aircraft made a precision strike on the suspected terrorist hideout after positive identification.
The report said an assessment after the air strike found the building had been destroyed completely.
“Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) immediately after the strike indicated that the building was completely destroyed and on fire with all suspected terrorists inside believed to have been neutralised,” Makama added.
It is reported that the aircraft remained in the area for a short time after the strike to observe the situation and check the outcome of the operation.
After completing the mission, it later came back to base.
Military sources said the air strike was part of the ongoing air interdiction operations to weaken the terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
The operations were intended to destroy terrorist infrastructure and restrict the freedom of movement of insurgents across the region, the sources said.
