The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch has continued in its efforts to track, locate and eliminate terrorists in response to the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities targeting innocent civilians in Niger State, North-Central Nigeria.
A statement by Nigerian Air Force, NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet says 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, North-West Nigeria.
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 August 21 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest. Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were killed as a result of the strike.
Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun of Zamfara State, North-West Nigeria. The terrorists were tracked to zinc-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.
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. 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.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
