The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch successfully eliminated Yellow Jambros, a notorious terrorist and kidnap kingpin, along with numerous other terrorists in airstrikes carried out in the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger,leadership reports.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) disclosed this information through a statement released by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information, on Sunday in Abuja.
Gabkwet explained that the terrorists met their fate while attempting to cross the Jikudna River in the Galadima Kogo District, heading towards the Wurukuvhi axis of Chikun LGA.
Yellow Jambros and his associates were tracked from Zamfara into Niger, riding 13 motorcycles along the Kaduna-Niger State border, specifically heading towards Kusasu in Shiroro before the airstrike.
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“At Kusasu, five other motorcycle-riding terrorists joined Yellow Jambros’ convoy, bringing the total number of motorcycles to 18, which then headed to the bank of River Jikudna.
“At the river bank, the terrorists and their 18 motorcycles boarded a large motor-powered canoe in an attempt to cross and link up with other terrorists across the river.
“It was at this point that the authorization to undertake a strike was given.
“The precision strike was deemed effective as it neutralized Yellow Jambros and his colleagues, destroyed their motorcycles, and sank the boat.
“Though it was unusual for terrorists riding in a convoy of 18 motorcycles to travel in broad daylight, it was apparent that Yellow Jambros and his cohorts had assumed that air strikes were suspended following the unfortunate incident at Tudun Biri in Kaduna State and wanted to exploit the perceived window of opportunity,” he stated.
Gabkwet, the NAF spokesman, noted that Yellow Jambros and his associates were responsible for numerous kidnappings and killings along the Abuja-Kaduna Road and in several communities in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and Zamfara States.
He mentioned that a kidnap kingpin named Mohammed Sani, arrested by the Police in Zamfara in October 2020 for murdering over 50 victims due to their inability to mobilize ransom, claimed to work for Yellow Jambros. According to Gabkwet, the terrorist supplied Sani with fake military and police uniforms, guns, and other weapons needed to execute his operations.
