The military air component of Operation Whirl Punch has killed 30 terrorists on motorcycles in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
The air strikes were ordered by the military following an intelligence report which disclosed the movement of the terrorists in the area.
A statement on Monday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the eliminated terrorists were responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa recently as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in the LGA.
The statement read, “In its relentless campaign to rid the Northwest and Northcentral region 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 LGA of Kaduna State.
“The intelligence also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, 2024, as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.”
He added that when the troops arrived at the location, two armed terrorists were sighted on 15 motorcycles.
Gabkwet noted that a precision strike was conducted which eliminated the terrorist
He said “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 two 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.”
The Birin Gwari area of Kaduna is one of the areas ravaged by insecurity, resulting in the death and abductions of residents.
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