By Milcah Tanimu
The air component of Operation Whirl Punch has successfully neutralized 30 terrorists on motorcycles in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. This decisive action came in response to an intelligence report detailing the movement of the terrorist syndicate in the area.
As reported by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, the eliminated terrorists were responsible for the recent ambush of troops at Kwanan Mutuwa and multiple attacks and abductions of civilians in the Birnin Gwari LGA.
The intelligence further revealed that the same syndicate had carried out the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, 2024. Upon receiving this information, precision strikes were conducted, leading to the elimination of the terrorists who were sighted on 15 motorcycles in the Kwiga-Kampamin Doka axis.
Following the successful operation, it was confirmed that several terrorists were neutralized as a result of the precision strikes. The Birnin Gwari area has been grappling with insecurity, with frequent incidents of bandits killing and abducting residents.
Simultaneously, in Katsina State, security operatives rescued 35 kidnap victims from Tashar Nagulle and Nahuta communities in the Batsari Local Government Area. These victims were abducted by bandits and held captive in Dumburu forest.
Governor Dikko Radda, upon meeting the rescued victims at the Government House, Katsina, congratulated them and provided each with financial support of N100,000 to assist them in starting any business of their choice. The successful rescue operation involved a fierce gun battle between the troops and the bandits, resulting in the deaths of many bandits, the destruction of their camps, and the recovery of numerous weapons through the collaborative efforts of security operatives in the state.