Defense Headquarters says Operation Hadin Kai troops have killed more than 120 boko haraam/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the northeast in the last three weeks.
Defense Media Operations Director Bernard Onyeuko, a Major General, had this to say while giving an update on military operations across the country between January 20 and February on Thursday in Abuja.
Onyeuko said several ISWAP commanders “including their emir and some foreign mercenaries who make improvised explosive devices were killed during airstrikes and ground operations.”
It also said that 965 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops at different locations within the theater of operations during the period.
Onyeuko said that 104 of the surrendered terrorists were from the ISWAP group, while 25 kidnapped victims were rescued during the operations.
According to him, the terrorists have been duly documented and handed over to the corresponding authorities so that they can take the necessary measures.
He added that 50 terrorists were detained in different places by the troops, while five trucks with weapons and a cache of weapons and ammunition were recovered.
According to him, the troops also recorded significant results in various places in Adamawa and Yobe around Goniri in the Gujba local government area of Yobe state.
“In particular, the aerial interdiction eliminated several ISWAP commanders and their fighters during the encounter.
“In the airstrike, ISWAP senior commander Malam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries who were making improvised explosive devices for the terrorists were killed during the airstrike.
“Relatively, the Air Component conducted airstrikes on ISWAP enclaves in Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in the Mars Local Government Area.
“In the process, the troops neutralized dozens of terrorists, including high-profile commanders, while some 25 terrorists drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the shelling.
“ISWAP’s armory and warehouse were also destroyed and a number of terrorists were arrested, various weapons, ammunition, along with their weapons trucks and other weapons were recovered.
“In addition, cattle and other security elements were recovered, as well as kidnapped civilians,” he said.
(YAYA)