Fighter jets
of the Nigerian Air Force conducted air strikes on at least three Benue State
communities on Saturday, in an operation which lasted several hours.
The NAF
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo
Adesanya, confirmed the air strikes to our correspondent.
He noted
that it was an ongoing operation and that he could not reveal further details.
Adesanya
said, “It is true that the NAF aircrafts are involved in an operation together
with other security services in Katsina-Ala. But the operation is still ongoing
and I cannot disclose further details.”
Our
correspondent learnt that the air strikes were carried out along the
Katsina-Ala to Zaki Biam and Wukari Road and that the affected villages
included Gbise, Ayaka and environs.
A reliable
source in Katsina-Ala, who is privy to the air attacks, said the operation
could be a reprisal on hoodlums in the communities.
Some
hoodlums, dressed in military camouflage, had last week attacked the Commander
of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, Maj Gen John Malu, in his hometown in
Tse Adoor, Tiir Ward, Tongov in the Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.
The source
said, “Gbise, Ayaka and other nearby villages in Katsina-Ala were on Saturday
bombarded by the air force. These are reprisal attacks by the military to clear
the hoodlums who attacked Maj Gen Malu when he was home last week.
“There were
mortars, artillery pieces, assault rifles and aerial bombardments.”
Our
correspondent could not ascertain the number of casualties or dead as of press
time because military sources said the operations could last till Sunday
(today).
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