By Ken Afor
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has conducted airstrikes targeting a terrorist enclave in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State, according to a statement by Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday, June 4.
Gabkwet stated that the operation was carried out by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch between May 30 and 31, 2024.
He said: “The strikes were executed at the stronghold of the infamous terrorist, Buharinyadi, situated in the Bula Forest area in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State.
“The strikes were prompted by painstaking Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted in the targeted vicinity, where several clusters of thatched-roofed huts within compounds were observed amid thick vegetation.”
According to the statement, surveillance operations confirmed a substantial presence of armed terrorists in the area. “The militants were observed loitering around huts, with over 13 motorcycles seen tucked under a large umbrella tree, suggesting a significant operational base.”
The statement revealed that intelligence gathered from multiple sources identified these terrorists as key perpetrators responsible for most of the attacks and kidnappings in several communities within Birnin Gwari, Igabi, and Giwa local government areas.
“Overhead, scores of terrorists were sighted and subsequently struck, bringing effective and maximum damage to the targets and their equipment,” the statement said.
It noted that, following a credible tip, NAF operatives launched a follow-up airstrike targeting a location approximately 500 metres west of the initial strike zone.
It added that “the mission yielded significant results, with multiple terrorists neutralised and their hideouts reduced to ashes.”
Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji conducted precision airstrikes on June 2, 2024, targeting the notorious terrorist leader, Alhaji Iliya and his associates at Zango Hill in Kankara local government area, Katsina State.
According to the statement, intelligence had revealed a high concentration of terrorist activity in the area, characterised by a cluster of huts, zinc-roofed structures, and significant human and livestock movements. “The airstrikes were precision-guided to maximize impact and minimize collateral damage.
“Accordingly, air interdiction was authorised and conducted over the location, to decimate the terrorists and destroy their weapons and mobility. After the strike, Battle Damage Assessment footage and feedback received revealed that the strikes were successful, as several terrorists were eliminated and their structures engulfed in flames,” the statement said.
The Air Force also announced its ongoing commitment to maintaining control over conflict zones, working in conjunction with ground troops.
It added that their strategy involves comprehensive monitoring of the environment, regular patrol missions, and precise strikes against terrorist hideouts within their designated operational regions.
This approach aims to provide the security agency and its partners with a superior position in the battle landscape.
“Still, a whole-of-society approach remains a key factor in the ongoing efforts to minimize the threats posed by criminal elements,” the statement added.
