The Military High Command, has said its troops fighting insurgents in the North East have killed the new leader of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Malam Bako and thirty-seven (37) other terrorists.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, said on Thursday that Bako, who succeeded Abu Musab Al-Barnawi as leader of ISWAP was gunned down by troops in the course of its operations in the last two weeks.
General Onyeuko also said a total of eleven criminal elements comprising of terrorists, their informants as well as their logistics suppliers were arrested within the period under review.
According to him, items seized from the criminals include : 29 assorted weapons,166 rounds of assorted ammunition, gun trucks and 622 bags of fertilizer, used for production of IEDs while five kidnapped civilians were released by troops during the encounter.
Speaking at a bi-weekly conference on the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operational activities in Abuja, Onyeuko said some of these feats were recorded at; Dar, Kumshe, Wulgo, Chabbol and Kijmatari villages in Borno State as well as locations along Ngala – Wulgo and Nguru along Kano roads.
Other locations he said include: Dikwa and Mafa villages as well as Ngama village in Yobe State.
He explained that “between 15 and 28 October 2021, a total of 1,199 terrorists and their families, comprising 114 adult males, 312 adult females and 773 children, surrendered to own troops at different locations in the North East.
“In another development, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted series of air interdiction missions against the BHT/ISWAP terrorists which were successful in different locations. Significantly, on 20 October 2021, the Air Component scored another devastating hit on BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements at Malam Fatori on the fringes of the Lake Chad.
“This feat was achieved on the heels of credible intelligence report and after series of aerial surveillance, which confirmed the convergence of terrorist elements in 20 boats at the location.
“Consequently, air strikes were executed on the target with various NAF platforms, which led to the destruction of the boats and neutralization of scores of the terrorists, while few of them flee in disarray with varying degrees of wounds.
“Similarly, on 21 October 2021, following report of ISWAP elements’ attack on own troops at Katarko area in Yobe State, the Air Component engaged the terrorists in successive air strikes and neutralized scores of them
“Furthermore, the Maritime Component of Operation HADINK KAI has remained committed in efforts to end the insurgency in the North East Zone.
“To further enhance its operational efforts in the Zone, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo paid operational visit to Baga on Tuesday 19 October 2021.
He assured officers and ratings of the Naval Base Baga of his commitment to ensure necessary assets and logistics needed for effective execution of operations in the North East are provided to achieve the joint operational objectives of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”. Onyeuko added