By Adadainfo
A top terrorist commander, Alhaji Shanono, and 17 of his fighters have been killed in a bombing raid by Nigeria Air Force (NAF) jets in Kaduna State.
Alhaji Shanono and his fighters were killed Tuesday as they were holding a meeting at Ukambo, a village about 131 km from Kaduna in airstrikes executed by the Air Component of ‘Operation Whirl Punch’.
A high-ranking Air Force officer said over 30 rifles and 20 motorcycles were destroyed while 26 hostages held by the terrorists escaped following the airstrikes.
He said, “The effect of strikes undertaken by NAF aircraft revealed that several terrorists have been eliminated and their enclaves destroyed. One of such strikes which occurred on 9th August, 2022, resulted in the elimination of a well-known terrorist leader operating in Kaduna State.
“Indeed, following receipt of intelligence on 9 August 2022 that a well-known terrorist kingpin, Alhaji Shanono, had scheduled a meeting with his foot soldiers at Ukambo, a village about 131 km from Kaduna, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch dispatched aircraft for interdiction mission at the location.
“Overhead the location, terrorists were sighted under clusters of trees at the foot of Ukambo high ground and, after ensuring the absence of civilian settlements within the location, the crew received the authorisation to strike.
“Feedback from local sources disclosed that over 30 rifles and 20 motorbikes were destroyed while about 18 terrorists, including Alhaji Shanono, were neutralised while others sustained various degree of injuries.”
