At three known terrorist hideouts in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State—Alhaji Ganai site, Buhari new location, and Dogon Maikaji—the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch reportedly killed seven terrorist kingpins and several foot soldiers.
According to military sources, the strikes were authorized on December 1, 2022, and it was established that seven important terrorist leaders, including Jibrin Gurgu, Isah Jauro, and Tambuwal from Zamfara State, were neutralized after the successful operations.
Other kingpins killed include Noti, Bala, Yunusa, and Burti, a well-known accomplice of Haladu Buharin Yadi, a wanted terrorist.
Against terrorists and enclaves in Tsofa and Riyawa in Igabi and Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State, follow-up air interdiction missions were conducted.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, a spokesman for the NAF, confirmed the strikes while expressing gratitude to Nigerians for their support of the NAF and other security agencies, which he claimed was crucial to the agency’s early successes.
He gave the assurance that the NAF, led by Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, would keep giving all the air components in the various theaters the platforms and arsenals they required to be able to limit the enemies’ freedom of movement while also bringing other security agencies to their knees.