The Nigerian Air Force announced on Thursday that it has destroyed a suspected IED factory in Borno State.
The facility, located in Grazah within the Mandara Mountains, was targeted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet confirmed the success of the mission, marking a significant milestone in the fight against terrorism.
“Due to recent attacks, particularly on innocent civilians in Borno State using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and suicide bombers, and to fulfill the mandate of the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, air strikes were conducted on terrorist enclaves at Grazah, deep in the Mandara Hills, on August 2, 2024,” Gabkwet stated.
Gabkwet explained that the air strikes were initiated based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of a potential IED factory and storage area for other logistics. The IED factory had reportedly relocated from Gwoza to the Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest, and eventually to Grazah in the Mandara Hills.
“The frequent relocation of the IED factory is due to the substantial firepower exerted on terrorist enclaves by the combined efforts of the security forces in Operation Hadin Kai,” he noted.
Gabkwet further detailed that the Grazah location had been under surveillance for weeks, with various installations and activities of armed terrorists observed, suggesting the protection of a strategic site.
“Two gun trucks were spotted concealed under a large tree near the suspected IED factory,” he added.
These findings led to the decision to carry out an air strike to destroy the suspected IED factory and neutralize the terrorists.
“Consequently, the targets were acquired and effectively destroyed. The aftermath of the air strikes, followed by a thick cloud of smoke, indicated that the suspected IED factory and the two gun trucks were destroyed, while several terrorists were neutralized,” Gabkwet concluded.
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