Structures housing Boko Haram Commanders in Parisu and Bula Bello in Sambisa forest area of Borno State have been destroyed by airstrikes conducted by the Air Task Force of the Operation Lafiya Dole, The Nation has learnt.
According to a statement by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, the well-fortified structures hidden under forest vegetation, served as stronghold for Boko Haram Commanders.
It disclosed that the air interdiction was carried out after “recent aerial surveillance missions showed increased activities of terrorists in a cluster of structures in the middle of Bulla Bello”.
The statement read in part, “the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed the dwellings of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) leaders and neutralized some of their fighters in separate air strikes conducted at Parisu and Bula Bello in the Sambisa Forest Area of Borno State.
“The air interdiction missions were executed on 3 July 2020 as part of the ongoing subsidiary Operation LONG REACH II after intelligence reports indicated a resurgence of terrorists’ activities in the 2 settlements. Parisu, with its booby-trapped access routes, fortified check points and structures camouflaged under the forest vegetation, served as a stronghold for the BHT Commanders, while recent aerial surveillance missions showed increased activities of the terrorists in a cluster of structures in the middle of Bula Bello.
“Consequently, the Air Task Force dispatched its fighter jets to attack the 2 locations. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets, while taking turns to engage the targets, scored accurate bomb and rocket strikes, resulting in the destruction of some of the structures as well as the killing of several terrorists.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the ATF for their dedication, dexterity and professionalism. The Defence Headquarters equally urges them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”

Okodili Ndidi