The Nigerian Air Force announced on Sunday that several terrorists were neutralized during an airstrike on the Malum Forest in Kaduna State.
The operation targeted individuals responsible for recent violent activities, including attacks on civilians, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to The PUNCH, in a statement issued by the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, it was revealed that the air raid was conducted on Saturday, August 24, by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch.
He stated, “In response to 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.”
Gabkwet explained that intelligence reports had identified that most of the terrorists responsible for the attacks in Shiroro LGA had moved from Alawa Forest in Niger State to their base in Malum Forest, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He further said, “Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on 21 August 24 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest. Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.”
In addition to the operation in Kaduna, Gabkwet mentioned that similar airstrikes were carried out in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He noted, “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.”
The air force spokesperson also highlighted that air patrols in the Niger Delta region led to the destruction of several illegal refining sites and overhead tanks.
“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,” Gabkwet said.
He added, “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.”
