The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) on Sunday revealed that the terrorists perpetrating attacks in Niger State have their base in Kaduna State.
The NAF revealed this in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Information,
Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet.
The revelation came against the backdrop of the recent attacks on communities in Niger, particularly the coordinated attacks in Shiroro communities which led to the death of farmers and miners.
“Intelligence gathered had revealed that most of the terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State were domiciled in Kaduna State,” the NAF said.
The Niger State government had raised the alarm over the upsurge of attacks, abductions and cattle rustling in its communities, pleading for the return of the Army that had hitherto left Shiroro in April after the ambush on their personnel.
The Air Force further revealed that its Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch had executed an Air Interdiction on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest upon credible intelligence.
The statement read partly: “Additional intelligence further revealed the sightings of these terrorists as they relocated from Alawa Forest in Niger State after their nefarious acts to their stronghold in Malum Forest in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State,” the Air Force noted.
“Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.
“Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
“The terrorists were tracked to zinced-roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line Northwest of the location.
“The targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes.”
Similarly, the air component of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 25 illegal refinery sites located at Ohaji/Egbema in Imo and Degema and Cawthorne Channel of Rivers State respectively.
In Greenville, Rivers State, a leaking pipeline was observed with the leakage spreading across over a 150-metre radius with its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitats and farmlands.