By Kamsi Anayo
A notorious kidnap kingpin, identified as Janari, and several members of his gang on were on January 18 neutralized by air strikes by the air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH,
Janari and his cohorts according to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, were gangs responsible for several attacks and abductions within Kaduna state as well as along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
The airstrikes, Gabkwet said, “were authourized after Janari and his gang were sighted at a location near Gadar Katako in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state preparing for a likely attack or kidnap of vulnerable civilians, hence the need to immediately attack the location”.
Gabkwet said: “Intelligence received after the strike revealed that Janari was indeed eliminated alongside several other terrorists/kidnappers.”
He added that similar air strikes were also carried out on January 20, 2024 on confirmed terrorists and kidnappers’ hideouts near Chukuba in Niger State with various degrees of success.
“Feedback after the strikes was also positive as it confirmed that the targets were neutralised and their mobility destroyed”.
“NAF will continue to collaborate with other security agencies across all locations suspected of harbouring terrorists and kidnappers”, Gabkwet said.
