File photo of NAF fighter jets conducting air strikes
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has killed one Janari, a “notorious terrorist and kidnap kingpin”, in Kaduna.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Edward Gabkwet, air force spokesperson, said the air component of Operation Whirl Punch killed Janari and scores of his associates in air strikes on Thursday.
Gabkwet said Janari and “his cohorts have been responsible for several attacks and abductions within Kaduna state and along the Abuja-Kaduna highway”.
The NAF spokesperson said the strikes were authorised after Janari and his gang were seen at a location near Gadar Katako in Igabi LGA of the north-west state.
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He said intelligence surveillance revealed that the criminals “were massing up for a likely attack or kidnapping of vulnerable civilians, hence the need to immediately attack the location”.
Gabkwet said information received after the strikes “revealed that Janari was eliminated alongside several other terrorists/kidnappers”.
The spokesperson said similar air strikes were also carried out on Saturday on confirmed terrorists and kidnappers’ hideouts near Chukuba in Niger state, with various degrees of success.
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“Feedback after the strikes was also positive as it confirmed that the targets were neutralised and their mobility destroyed,” he said.
Gabkwet added that NAF will continue to collaborate with other security agencies to eliminate terrorists and kidnappers from their hideouts.
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