The air component of Operation Whirl Punch, operating in the North-West and North Central zones, has successfully targeted and eliminated several terrorists in an air bombardment in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the operation was initiated based on intelligence indicating the presence of a terrorist kingpin known as Boderi along with his brother Nasiru and other members at their hideout in Tsauni Doka village in the area.

“The Nigerian Air Force aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch have sustained air strikes against terrorists operating in the North-West and North Central regions of the country, leading to the decimation of several terrorist elements at Tsauni Doka in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.

“Subsequently, air strikes were carried out on the location in the early hours of November 16th, 2023, with devastating consequences on the terrorists,” the statement read.

“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.”

The Air Commodore stated that Boderi and his associates were reportedly responsible for numerous attacks and abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, and in several communities in Kaduna and Niger states.