Airstrikes executed by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch have eliminated several terrorists who ambushed troops at Manini in Kaduna on 10 July 2024.
A statement by the director of Public Relations and Information AVM Edward Gabkwet said an airstrike conducted on 12 July 2024 at terrorist Alhaji Layi’s enclave, situated in Kufan Shantu Village in Giwa local government area (LGA) of Kaduna State, killed several terrorists and burnt their thatched roofed huts.
He said the location was also the terrorists’ logistics base tucked under thick foliage.
The director said another air strike was carried out on 13 July 2024 over terrorists’ camps situated inside Malum Forest in Igabi LGA
AVM Gabkwet said the Battle Damage Assessment footage revealed the terrorists freely loitering around the forest at a compound with zinc-roofed structures.
Therefore, a precision strike was authorised, which killed most of the terrorists.
“These air strikes were initiated following thorough credible Human Intelligence, along with Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations, which identified the targeted locations as enclaves of terrorists responsible for the ambush on troops at Manini on 10 July 2024,”he said.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Air Force, alongside surface forces, will maintain dominance in the battlespace through extensive situational awareness, regular patrols, and targeted interdiction of terrorists’ safe havens in its area of responsibility and neighbouring states.
This, he said is to effectively eliminate and eradicate terrorism and other criminal activities in the North West and North Central regions.