Nigerian Air Force Launches Airstrikes to Protect Power Infrastructure in Northern Nigeria

  • The Nigerian Air Force has launched air interdiction operations to protect electricity infrastructure in northern Nigeria from terrorist and bandit attacks. 
  • On November 1, 2024, NAF airstrikes targeted terrorist positions in Niger State to support power restoration efforts in Kaduna and neighbouring areas.

On Monday, November 4, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft have commenced interdiction operations to safeguard electricity infrastructure in northern Nigeria from terrorist and bandit attacks.

On November 1, 2024, NAF ISR platforms executed a series of airstrikes against terrorist positions in the Alawa Forest, located in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State. The operation was part of coordinated efforts to support power restoration in Kaduna and other northwestern states, which have faced power disruptions due to attacks on infrastructure.

According to NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, the mission followed intelligence reports confirming the presence of terrorist groups plotting to disrupt the ongoing restoration work. “The air component quickly acted on this intelligence, launching a successful strike that neutralised several terrorists and their logistics,” Akinboyewa said.

He added that the NAF has increased reconnaissance along key power lines, from Shiroro Lake to Damba, to maintain airspace dominance and prevent further interference. This initiative is part of a broader effort to collaborate with other security agencies in protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring the uninterrupted restoration of essential services across the affected regions.

The Nigerian Air Force emphasised that these operations are part of a broader security strategy to protect critical national infrastructure from terrorist activities, which have increasingly targeted regional power grids and energy facilities.

In addition to the airstrikes, NAF personnel continue to conduct regular surveillance and armed reconnaissance missions to monitor and secure vulnerable areas, ensuring that the ongoing efforts to restore electricity are not hindered.

The NAF has pledged continued collaboration with other military and security agencies to maintain stability in northern Nigeria and safeguard the country’s power infrastructure from further disruption.

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