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).

Nbote:
Conducting Airstikes on communities with civilians? Anyway let's wait till we get d full picture before I comment.. Dis is all shades of wrong.. I don't pity benue ppl anymore

docadams:
@OP, where is your source?

Redoil:
I hope innocent lives were not taken

SarkinYarki:
When we said the govt has been using Nigerian airforce assets to provide air support for Fulani militia many thought it was an over exaggeration but now y'all can see ... The truth must be told the Benue issue has all the tell signs of a govt backed pogrom

SalamRushdie:


http://punchng.com/air-force-jets-bomb-benue-villages/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

justtoodark:
its hard to fight urban wars.....

nigerian army was not meant for this kind of war.....

its a conventional army,fire for fire....its mostly police that suppose to be doing this kind of stuff....

but nigerian police is already outnumbered.....

9jaArea:


Nigerian police prefer to set roadblocks, they're not interested in enfrcorcing the law.

SamuelAnyawu:
OP where is your Source?

9jaArea:
That area is notorious for armed militia, in 2016 about six soldiers were ambushed and killed in that axis.

The sensational style of reportage adopted by the Nigerian media is doing a lot more harm than good to the society, considering that a good number of Nigerians are lazy when it is a question of reading as it is evident here.

joudini:
An officer was attacked on the ground and you conduct aerial bombardment with surely dumb bombs? Why couldn't the army use ground insertion? Or is that area also held by terrorists?

These sick bastards have no regard for innocent victims who could be caught up in this.

Don't be fooled, Nigerians. This is a long con.

SarkinYarki:


Do you know how many Benue villages are currently being occupied openly by Fulani militia and the airfoec has not him to bomb them ? bro you can keep decieving yourself but we knowhats actually going on....all the villages bombed are providing stiff resistance to Fulani expansionist agenda in the Benue Valley

SarkinYarki:


Do you know how many Benue villages are currently being occupied openly by Fulani militia and the airfoec has not him to bomb them ? bro you can keep decieving yourself but we knowhats actually going on....all the villages bombed are providing stiff resistance to Fulani expansionist agenda in the Benue Valley

SarkinYarki:
When we said the govt has been using Nigerian airforce assets to provide air support for Fulani militia many thought it was an over exaggeration but now y'all can see ... The truth must be told the Benue issue has all the tell signs of a govt backed pogrom