Key terrorist leaders Abu Asad, Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and over 100 fighters have been killed in airstrikes executed by the Nigerian Air Force at Tagoshe on the Mandara mountains in Borno State.
Director of public relations and information in the Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Gabkwet said in a statement yesterday that the airstrike which was carried out on Friday destroyed the terrorists’ structures and troop carriers.
He said the terrorists were observed amassing in an isolated location consisting of three zinced structures amid several trees.
Gabkwet said; “From the footage, it was evident that the terrorists were massing up at the location for either a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on own troops.
“Over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures which also had four troop carriers. The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures, as well as the entire troop carriers were destroyed.
“There are also indications that Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram as well as other terrorists like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and several fighters were among the several terrorists eliminated in the air strike.”
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar who commended the air component commander and his men, urged them to continue to synergise with the land component as they maintain the momentum in “keeping the terrorists on their toes.”