Several members of the Boko Haram terrorist group were eliminated during an air operation conducted by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement released on Sunday, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the air operations were successful.
The airstrikes were carried out following an intelligence report that a Boko Haram kingpin, identified as Boderi and his members were at the location.
The intelligence report prompted the service to embark on another operation targeted at Boderi’s brother.
The two brothers, according to Gabkwet were responsible for several attacks on communities in the state and its environs.
“Nigerian Air Force aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch have sustained air strikes against terrorists operating in the north-west and north-central region of the country, leading to the decimation of several terrorist elements at Tsauni Doka at Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.” the statement partly reads
“The strikes became necessary following credible intelligence revealing the presence of a terrorist kingpin known as Boderi and his foot soldiers at Tsauni Doka.
“Subsequently, air strikes were carried out on the location in the early hours of November 16, 2023, with devastating consequences on the terrorists. Similar strikes with positive outcomes were also carried out at a location about 500 metres east of Boderi’s hideout, believed to be the hiding place of Boderi’s brother, Nasiru. Both strikes were termed very successful, as several terrorists were neutralised and their motorcycles destroyed.”
“Boderi and his brother, Nasiru, alongside their cohorts, have been blamed for several attacks and abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, as well as in several communities in Niger and Kaduna states.” Gabkwet said