The hideout of the leader of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), Fiya Ba Yuram, in Sambisa forest has come under heavy bombardment from Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the airstrikes.
He said they were carried out on some specific targets in the Tunbuns and Sambisa with varying degrees of success, adding that “the NAF won’t however be drawn into giving the details of those neutralised”.
“On August 20, NAF aircraft under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out some strikes on terrorists enclave in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns in Borno State with varying degrees of success recorded.
“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence, NAF aircraft were directed to an active location in Sambisa Forest believed to be the enclave of notorious terrorist, Fiya Ba Yuram. Fiya Ba Yuram is the current ISWAP leader of Sambisa Forest who took over the leadership following the demise of Abubakar Shekau.
“On arrival, the location was observed to be active with terrorists seen gathering. Airstrikes were then authorised and carried out on the location. An assessment of the location after the strikes revealed it to be successful, though it remained unconfirmed if Fiya Ba Yuram was among the terrorists neutralised in the strikes.”