Operation Whirl Punch: Nigerian Air Force Kills Notorious Kidnap Kingpin In Kaduna State

Nigerian Air Force said on Sunday that a kidnap kingpin identified as Janari and some of his soldiers were killed in Operation Whirl Punch held in Kaduna State.

Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information of Nigerian Air Force, said Janari was the mastermind behind many kidnappings in the state and the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The killing took place on Jan. 18 as Janari and his soldiers were reportedly planning to attack citizens again.

"Air strikes undertaken by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch, on Thursday, January 18, 2024, have neutralized a well-known terrorist and kidnap kingpin popularly known as Janari and several members of his syndicate," Gabkwet said, Punch reported.

"They were massing up for a likely attack or kidnapping of vulnerable civilians, hence, the need to immediately attack the location. Intelligence received after the strike revealed that Janari was indeed eliminated alongside several other terrorists/kidnappers," he added.

Nigerian Air Force also carried out a similar operation in Niger State over the weekend.

"Similar air strikes were also carried out on 20 January 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 neutralized and their mobility destroyed," he said.

Not only Niger and Kaduna States, but entire Nigeria is dealing with frequent kidnappings. The country has seen an outbreak of cases in recent years – 3,620 people were abducted in the country from July 2022 to June 2023 alone.

Aside from kidnappings, banditry is another issue the nation is facing, with armed bandits linked to several attacks against communities and security officials.

On Sunday, Kano State Police Command's Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Haruna said that they have been patrolling jointly with major highways linking Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi states.

"We have made a massive deployment of armed personnel to Falgore Forest which shares a border with Kaduna state as part of measures being taken to check activities of bandits coming from that state (Kaduna)," Haruna said.

"Even though Kano State is not experiencing serious security challenges, we are not relenting in our effort to ensure that the state is safe and secured," he added.

Last month, armed men attacked the Taraba community and kidnapped 16 people, including a traditional ruler, a pregnant woman and two police officers.