The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch has neutralised scores of terrorists in Nigeria and Zamfara states.
It’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet in a statement issued Monday said the air strikes were carried out in response to the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities targeting innocent civilians in Niger State.
He said intelligence gathered had revealed that most of the terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State were domicile in Kaduna State.
Gabkwet stressed that additional intelligence further revealed the sightings of these terrorists as they relocated from Alawa Forest in Niger State after their nefarious acts to their stronghold in Malum Forest in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.
He added: “Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on 21 Aug 24 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest.
“Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.
“Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
“The terrorists were tracked to zinced-roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line Northwest of the location. The targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes.”
Gabkwet noted that in the Niger Delta Region, patrols conducted by the air component of Operation Delta Safe over Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State revealed several Illegal Refining Sites and overhead tanks which were effectively destroyed.
He said in all, over 25 illegal sites were destroyed.
“In Greenville, Rivers State, a leaking pipeline was observed with the leakage spreading across over 150 metres radius with its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitats and farmlands,” Gabkwet noted.