Over 30 terrorists and bandits have been neutralized by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch, in an air strike along Kwiga-Kampanin Doka axis, in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Director, Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, AVM Edward Gabkwet, revealed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said that the strike followed intelligence received on the movement of the criminals along the axis.

He further disclosed that the intel also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on Jan. 27, as well as several attacks and abductions of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.

Gabkwet added that a deliberate and detailed scan revealed a trail of terrorists moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, each with at least two armed terrorists.

“Accordingly, the terrorists were trailed to a location where they converged before they were engaged and neutralised in a precision strike.

“The aftermath of the air strike revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike,” he said.