The Nigeria Air Force has killed 15 suspected members of the Boko Haram terror group after foiling an ambush by the insurgents at Doron Naira in the terror-prone Borno State, northeast of the country, the airforce said on Wednesday.
Ayodele Famuyiwa, Air Force spokesperson, said the latest victory against the terrorists brought to the fore the important role of airpower in counter-insurgency operations.
“In furtherance of this role, the NAF has been relentless in its effort to shape the battlespace and provide favourable environment for own surface forces to operate,” he said.
Famuyiwa said the recent deployment of additional platforms to increase the tempo of air operations at the commencement of Operation Gama Aiki was aimed at fostering this objective.
Gama Aiki is one operations aimed to limit the reach and impact of the terror group that has claimed the lives of 20,000 and displaced over two million.
“The foiled plan to ambush own surface forces by BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists) shows that the air efforts by the NAF has started to yield the desired results,” said Famuyiwa.
An assortment of weapons was recovered from the insurgents.
