By Augustine Ehikioya
To reduce the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities targeting innocent civilians in Niger State, the Air Component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH has continued in its efforts to track, locate and eliminate the terrorists responsible.
To this end, it has succeeded in eliminating some terrorists responsible for the attacks in Niger State who were domiciled in Kaduna State.
It also succeeded in eliminating terrorists in Zamfara state.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), “intelligence gathered had revealed that most of the terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State were domicile in Kaduna State.
“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.
“Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on 21 August, 2024 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest.”
The statement added that Battle Damage Assessment and feedback from local sources revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.
It went on “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.”
Concerning the Niger Delta Region, the statement said 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.
“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.” it stated.
