[Mhiz Rebecca]

Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force conducted air
strikes on at least three Benue State communities on
Saturday, in an operation which lasted several hours.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air
Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, confirmed the air
strikes to our correspondent.
He noted that it was an ongoing operation and that he
could not reveal further details.
Adesanya said, “It is true that the NAF aircrafts are
involved in an operation together with other security
services in Katsina-Ala. But the operation is still ongoing
and I cannot disclose further details.”
Our correspondent learnt that the air strikes were carried
out along the Katsina-Ala to Zaki Biam and Wukari Road
and that the affected villages included Gbise, Ayaka and
environs.
A reliable source in Katsina-Ala, who is privy to the air
attacks, said the operation could be a reprisal on
hoodlums in the communities.
Some hoodlums, dressed in military camouflage, had last
week attacked the Commander of the Nigerian Army
Engineering Corps, Maj Gen John Malu, in his hometown
in Tse Adoor, Tiir Ward, Tongov in the Katsina-Ala LGA of
Benue State.
The source said, “Gbise, Ayaka and other nearby villages
in Katsina-Ala were on Saturday bombarded by the air
force. These are reprisal attacks by the military to clear
the hoodlums who attacked Maj Gen Malu when he was
home last week.
“There were mortars, artillery pieces, assault rifles and
aerial bombardments.”
Our correspondent could not ascertain the number of
casualties or dead as of press time because military
sources said the operations could last till Sunday
(today).
Source:- Punchng