Military airstrikes kill kidnap kingpin, others in Kaduna, Niger

A kidnap kingpin identified as Janari and some of his foot soldiers have been killed during operations conducted by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in Kaduna state.

Janari was said to have masterminded several kidnappings within Kaduna state as well as the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed this in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet.

Gabkwet stated that the order to strike was given after Janari and his cohorts were gathering to launch an attack on the citizens.

The statement read, “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.

Janari and his cohorts have been responsible for several attacks and abductions within Kaduna State as well as along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The strikes were authorised after Janari and his gang were sighted at a location near Gadar Katako in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Further exploitation revealed that 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.”

Gabkwet also said similar operations targeted at kidnappers in Niger state were successful.

“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 neutralised and their mobility destroyed,” the statement added.

The country is facing an epidemic of kidnapping and numerous citizens are being abducted by perpetrators in exchange for huge sums of money.

Consequently, various security agencies have intensified their efforts to curb these criminal activities in response to the surge in citizen abductions.