Nigerian forces use airstrikes to battle Boko Haram

The Nigerian army accompanied ground offensives with aerial bombardment of suspected Boko Haram sites in the Sambisa forest and illegal oil refineries in the Niger Delta region.

The Nigerian Air Force announced the start of the Operation Forest Storm which will last for some days to wipe out Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria, Pulse Ningeria reported.

This operation comes after a proposed negotiation between the government and the Boko Haram terrorists to release the missing Chibok girls in exchange for jailed terrorists.

In the Niger Delta region where terrorists group Niger Delta Avengers have agreed to a ceasefire to negotiate with the Nigerian government, the air force has conducted airstrikes on Monday under the code name Operation Delta Safe.

The operation is targeted at destroying oil refineries and barges in the Delta and Rivers state along the Niger River.

The Niger Delta Avengers, which is calling for a greater share of Nigeria’s oil wealth to go to the impoverished Delta region, has warned in September against raids in the Delta region which can mar their ceasefire agreement with the government.

"We cannot be continuously fooled, the government cannot justify the indiscriminate targeting of Niger Delta youths while glorifying on these victimization of law abiding citizens of the region,” it said in a statement.

Several suspected Boko Haram and Niger Delta  terrorists have been arrested and weapons retrieved during the ground operations over the past weeks.

Casualties were also recorded on both sides, according to military accounts.