The Defence Headquarters has reported significant successes for the Air Components of Operation Whirl Punch in recent operations targeting terrorist camps in Zamfara and Katsina States, according to Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, said that these operations destroyed camps belonging to notorious terrorist commanders Bello Turji and Halilu.
During a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Maj.-Gen. Buba disclosed that these newly discovered camps were located through Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts. They were subsequently engaged and destroyed using rockets and cannons.
The airstrikes were highly effective, leading to the neutralization of several terrorists, including some of their commanders, as confirmed by operational feedback.
These operations underscore the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to combating terrorism and securing affected regions in Zamfara and Katsina States.
“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 on 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.
