Nigerian soldiers Bombs Boko Haram Training Camps

Boko Haram training camps in the Sambisa forest northeaster Nigeria were bombed by warplanes on Thursday, said the military in a statement.
“The air strikes which today [Thursday] targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa forests and parts of Gwoza have been highly successful achieving their aims with required precision,” said defence spokesperson Major-General Chris Olukolade.
“The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded while many others are also scampering all over the forest.”
He added the airstrike were continuing in other locations ahead of ground troops and other elements of the mission.
Olukolade said that “five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and eight different types of machine guns, five rocket propelled grenades, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition as well as 300 motorcycles destroyed in the fighting.”
He added six Hilux vehicles, “including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns were also destroyed.”
Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” and the group seeks to impose an Islamic State on Nigeria. The group accelerated their five-year long campaign last year, killing hundreds of civilians, abducting women and children, pillaging villages and bombing cities.
Last year the group kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok, which are believed to be held captive in the Sambisa forest – raising concerns the air strikes will risk their safety.
The military has in the past avoided bombing the forest to keep the girls out of harm.