Fighter jets have begun conducting raids on camps set up by suspected Boko Haram militants in forests of Bauchi State, security sources and residents of nearby villages told Daily Trust yesterday.
Residents of Ganjuwa and Darazo local government areas said they had sighted military aircraft heading towards the forests and heard sounds of bombings in the early hours of yesterday.
Suspected Boko Haram militants had been reported to be operating in the two LGAs, as well in neighbouring Gwaram of Jigawa State.
Locals had said that since December armed men were setting up camps in forests, infiltrating rural communities, engaging in recruitment drive and launching regular attacks in towns and villages of the two states.
Yesterday, residents of Soro in Ganjuwa LGA and Darazo said the military conducted bombings from around 5am to 8am in forests located in the two areas.
They said they heard loud sounds of explosives from the forests where camps of armed men were reportedly located.
Some people in rural communities said heavy bombing sent shock waves that were felt in the villages.
A man who spoke to our reporter said home buildings and the ground "vibrated" as a result of the bombings.
Locals said shortly after the explosions, they saw a Nigerian military aircraft hovering in the skies.
A reliable security source in Bauchi confirmed that the military has started an operation in the forests but did not give details.
The source said after the bombings, ground troops are expected to conduct a mop-up exercise in order to arrest any remaining armed men.
Insurgents have been reported to be operating in the Balmo forest in Darazo, Burra forest in Ningi, Soro in Ganjuwa, another forest between Zara-Miya also in Ganjuwa, as well as in Yuga forest in Toro LGA, all in Bauchi State.
Some of the areas share border with Gwaram in Jigawa, where gunmen had also been conducting deadly raids.
Source- Daily Trust
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