The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced on Monday that it had neutralized several terrorists attempting to disrupt repair efforts on the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a critical electricity source for the northern region.
The transmission line had been damaged by terrorists, plunging 17 northern states into darkness for the past three weeks. To address the crisis, President Bola Tinubu ordered security forces to protect electricity workers as they carried out repairs on the damaged infrastructure.
READ ALSO: Kano, Kaduna face blackout as vandals destroy TCN towers
In a statement, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, revealed that Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions had confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters gathering to hinder repair efforts. Acting on this intelligence, NAF launched airstrikes in the Alawa Forest region of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, targeting the insurgents’ positions.
“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,” Akinboyewa said. “This mission aligns with ongoing efforts to secure power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted progress in restoring electricity to affected areas.”
Akinboyewa explained that NAF crews observed and engaged the terrorists in the target area, killing several fighters and destroying their logistics. “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,” he added.
To safeguard the restoration efforts, the Air Force has ramped up reconnaissance operations along the critical power lines stretching from Shiroro Lake to Damba. “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,” Akinboyewa noted.
He concluded by emphasizing NAF’s dedication to cooperating with other security agencies to protect essential infrastructure and ensure the full restoration of services for Kaduna and neighboring states.
