John Shiklam in Kaduna
The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has eliminated a syndicate of terrorists in an airstrike in Kaduna State.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Gabkwet said the airstrike followed an intelligence report about the movement of the syndicate along the Kwiga-Kampamin Doka axis in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, adding that the intelligence report also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, 2024 and several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.
He said that the terrorists were sighted moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, with each motorcycle carrying at least two armed terrorists.
The statement read: “In its relentless campaign to rid the North-west and North-central regions of Nigeria of the menace of terrorism and kidnapping, the Air component of Operation Whirl Punch has eliminated a syndicate of terrorists in Kaduna State.
“The strike followed an intelligence report of the movement of the syndicate along the Kwiga-Kampamin Doka axis in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
“The intel also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on 27 January 2024, as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.
“On arrival at the suspected location, a deliberate and detailed scan revealed a trail of terrorists sighted moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, each with at least 2 armed terrorists.
“Accordingly, the terrorists were trailed to a location where they converged before they were engaged and neutralized in a precision strike.
“The aftermath of the air strike revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.”
According to Gabkwet, “The success of this particular airstrike has drawn the attention of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who has commended the Component Commander but cautioned that efforts must be sustained.”
The statement quoted the CAS as saying:
“While this does not call for celebration on our part, I must commend the professionalism of the crew for patiently trailing the criminals until an appropriate opportunity to strike presented itself. We must keep pushing and striving.”
