Zulum Urges NAF to Intensify Airstrikes on Terrorists’ Hideouts
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to unleash heavier airstrikes against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters entrenched in remote and difficult terrains.
Speaking in Maiduguri on Tuesday while receiving the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, Zulum identified the Lake Chad region, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and the Mandara Mountains as insurgent strongholds that remain challenging for ground troops to secure.
“Despite the NAF’s significant contributions to restoring peace in Borno, we still need intensified air power in hard-to-reach insurgent enclaves within our area of responsibility,” the governor said.
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Zulum commended the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other advanced platforms, pledging the state government’s full support to ensure the success of ongoing operations. He also praised the synergy between the Air Force and other security agencies, noting recent gains in the counterinsurgency campaign.
In his remarks, Air Marshal Abubakar lauded Zulum’s leadership and the community-driven “Borno Model” of deradicalisation and reintegration, describing it as a successful non-kinetic approach to tackling terrorism and humanitarian challenges.
“The Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Deradicalisation programme, which prioritises healing and reconciliation over punishment, has greatly enhanced security in Borno and across the North East,” Abubakar said.
He added that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai has intensified strikes to unprecedented levels this year, targeting key insurgent positions and degrading their operational capabilities.
By PRNigeria
