By Samuel Aruwan

Air component of Operation Whirl Punch has reported to the Kaduna State Government that several missions were conducted at various locations of interest in frontline areas.

According to the reports, following credible intelligence of bandits gathering around Ukambo, Chikun Local Government Area, air platforms targeted the location and struck it successfully.

Similarly, the hideouts of bandits identified as Alhaji Ishiaka (in Igabi Local Government Area) and Dan Rani (in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area) were targeted and destroyed with rockets.

Furthermore, terrorist camps in Janbirni as well as Takaura, Kuyanbana forest, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area were targeted and destroyed.

The Kaduna State Government was also informed that ten kidnapped citizens have escaped from a bandit camp following armed reconnaissance conducted over Damari Forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

Four escaped victims, originally from Damari, have been identified as follows:

Muhammadu Maitireda
Musa Adamu
Dahiru Garba
Badamasi Halilu

The other six escaped citizens were identified as:

Malam Alawiya
Maimuna
Adama
Garba
Ahmad and
Luka.

The six were visiting Damari from a neighbouring state when they were kidnapped. All ten citizens have since been reunited with their families.

In another development, troops of Operation Forest Sanity conducted fighting patrols along the Gyam-Kuriga-Manini-Udawa-Buruku road in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

Contact was made with bandits around Labi Gyam. After a 25-minute exchange, the bandits withdrew from the area. The troops dislodged the camp and recovered one AK47 rifle, seven motorcycles, nine rounds of ammunition and one Baofeng radio charger.

Ground and air patrols will continue in these areas.

@views exclusive rights: Samuel Aruwan,
Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, December 2, 2022.