Scores Killed As NAF Airstrikes Hit Terrorists In Kaduna

In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, announced that a significant number of terrorist elements were neutralized in Tsauni Doka, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Naija News understands that the NAF component of Operation Whirl Punch carried out the successful air interdiction mission.

Gabkwet said the decision to conduct the strikes was based on credible intelligence that revealed the presence of a notorious terrorist leader named Boderi and his followers in Tsauni Doka.

He said the air strikes were conducted on the location in the early hours of November 16, with devastating consequences for the terrorists.

“Both strikes were termed very successful as several terrorists were neutralised and their motorcycles destroyed,” he said.

“Boderi and his brother Nasiru, alongside their cohorts, have been blamed for several attacks and abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road as well as in several communities in Niger and Kaduna States,” the statement reads.

Gunmen Kill Pastor, Kidnap Wife In Kaduna Community

Meanwhile, the Pastor in charge of the second Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Damakasuwa, in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Amako Maraya, has been tragically killed by unidentified gunmen.

Naija News learnt that in addition to this devastating loss, the wife of the deceased was also taken captive by the assailants.

Daily Post quoted a source who happens to be an elder in the Church to have revealed that the gunmen launched their attack on the community at approximately 11 pm on Friday.

The source said, “Late on Friday night, the gunmen infiltrated the community and targeted the Pastor, mercilessly shooting him before abducting his wife and vanishing without a trace.”

Furthermore, the source elaborated that approximately three months ago, the same group of gunmen had made an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap the clergyman’s son. However, with the assistance of the community, their nefarious plan was thwarted, although the Pastor’s son sustained injuries during the incident.

The individual clarified that the assailants had made a phone call earlier on Saturday morning, demanding a ransom of N3 million from the family. However, no further communication has been received from them since then.

He expressed that there has been a prevailing sense of unease within the community following the occurrence of the incident. He appealed to both security agencies and the government to assist in rescuing the traumatized widow.

Naija News understands that the state police command has not issued any official statement yet about the incident as of the time of filing this report.