Bukola Afeni
In a significant blow to terrorist operations in the Northwest, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch has carried out successful air strikes on terrorist enclaves in Giwa and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
According to a press release signed by Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, the air strikes were conducted on July 12 and 13, 2024.
The strike resulted in the elimination of several terrorists and destruction of their logistics and structures.
“The first strike, carried out on July 12, targeted the enclave of notorious terrorist leader, Alhaji Layi, in Kufan Shantu Village, Giwa LGA. The strike destroyed the terrorists’ thatched roofed huts and burned down their logistics, which were tucked away under thick foliage.
“Similarly, an air strike on July 13, targeted terrorist camps in Malum Forest, Igabi LGA, resulting in the elimination of most of the terrorists in the area. The strike was authorized after thorough intelligence gathering, which identified the location as a safe haven for terrorists responsible for the ambush on troops at Manini on July 10, 2024.
The Nigerian Air Force has assured that it will continue to maintain dominance in the battlespace through extensive patrols, surveillance, and targeted interdiction of terrorists’ safe havens in its Area of Responsibility and neighboring states.
This development is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to diminish the capabilities of criminal elements in the Northwest, and a testament to the effectiveness of the military’s strategies in tackling terrorism in the region.
