NAF intensifies bombardment of vandals in Ogun communities

The Nigerian Air Force has intensified the ongoing aerial bombardment of hideouts of oil pipeline vandals at the Ogun State axis of Arepo.

It was learnt that the NAF resumed the current attack after the militants were heard firing from deep inside the mangrove forest following the visit of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and other top security personalities to the area on Thursday.

A top security source said that the NAF deployed an Augusta helicopter for the operation which struck some locations of the vandals.

 The source said that the helicopter, which commenced operation in the afternoon, was still carrying out the onslaught on the hideouts by 3pm on Friday.

 A senior military officer, who confided in our correspondent said that the helicopter was deployed to go after the vandals after they were sighted by a surveillance aircraft deployed in the area.

However, the source was silent on whether there were casualties in the attack or not.

The source said, “The operation is still ongoing. There is still serious military action going on in the place. Even as we are talking, the Air Force is engaging them from the sky.

“I think, the surveillance air craft deployed in the area picked them and might be responsible for the current action.

“The ground forces also moved there to respond to the gunfire from the vandals and the place was quiet for some time.

“Then on Friday, the helicopter started the fire again. Some of the guys are trapped in the thick forest.

“I cannot give you casualty figure because of the terrain; it is difficult to get such bodies even if locations were hit.”

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Nigerian Air Force, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, he confirmed the resumed attack on the vandals’ hideouts on Thursday but did not give further details.