The Defence Headquarters has said the Air Components of Operation Whirl Punch have in the last one week, destroyed several terrorist camps operated by notorious terrorist commanders, Bello Turji’s and Halilu in Zamfara and Katsina States.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the camps, which were newly discovered, were acquired through Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), adding that they were targeted and engaged with rockets and cannons.
He said the feedback had revealed that several of the terrorists, including some of the commanders, were indeed neutralized as a result of the airstrikes.
“But at this time we do not have a report of the death of Bello Turji and Halilu,” he said.
Buba said that a similar air interdiction was conducted June 8, overhead a terrorists’ enclave in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State following confirmatory ISR.
According to him, the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures destroyed.
He added that on June 6, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted air interdiction on a senior terrorist commander enclave at Tsaunin Doka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The battle damage assessment and feedback from locals revealed that several terrorists with high-profile commanders were eliminated and their logistics destroyed, he said.
“Similarly, on the same day, confirmatory ISR indicated terrorist activities in a terrorists’ camp within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger killing several terrorists,” he added.
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