The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully neutralized terrorists attempting to interfere with ongoing repairs to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which had been damaged in an earlier attack.
The transmission line, a critical source of electricity for the northern region, was destroyed by terrorists, leaving 17 northern states in darkness for over three weeks.
Following the disruption, President Bola Tinubu directed military forces to secure the area, ensuring the safety of engineers working to restore power.
In line with this directive, NAF intensified its efforts to safeguard the site, deploying fighter jets to protect the transmission infrastructure from further threats.
On Monday, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed that recent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions had identified a group of terrorist fighters gathering with the intent to sabotage the repair efforts.
Acting swiftly on this intelligence, NAF engaged the terrorists in a targeted airstrike, successfully eliminating several of the hostile fighters.
Akinboyewa said, “In a coordinated mission to support power restoration efforts in Kaduna and other northwestern states, the NAF, on November 1, 2024, executed a series of air interdiction operations targeting terrorist positions located deep within the Alawa Forest in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. This mission aligns with ongoing efforts to secure power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted progress in restoring electricity to affected areas.
“The strike followed a series of ISR missions which confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters who were converging to disrupt ongoing power restoration. The air component, acting swiftly on this intelligence, planned and carried out a successful airstrike to neutralize the threat. Overhead the target area, NAF crews observed and engaged the terrorists, neutralizing several fighters and their logistics with precise firepower.”
Akinboyewa said the Air Force has dominated the air space in the area to prevent the terrorists from interfering in the efforts to restore power to the affected states.
He said, “Alongside these interdictions, the NAF has intensified armed reconnaissance along critical power lines from Shiroro Lake to Damba, maintaining airspace dominance to prevent any potential terrorist interference in the restoration efforts.
“This sustained mission underscores NAF’s commitment to collaborate with other security agencies in protecting vital infrastructure and ensuring the swift and full restoration of essential services for Kaduna and neighbouring states