DHQ: Military kills 57 terrorists, top commanders in 2 weeks

The troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed over 57 terrorists in different operations conducted from August 11 to 25 in the North-East region of the country.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at a bi-weekly news briefing of the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

Danmadami said the operations were conducted through land and air raids on the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) enclaves in Borno and Yobe states.

He said the operation also led to the killing of an unspecified number of terrorists in a number of airstrikes, with more than 18 of them seriously wounded.

He stated that eight suspected terrorists and four terrorists’ logistic suppliers were apprehended, adding that four civilian victims were rescued during the period.

Danmadami said a total of 1,652 Boko Haram terrorists and their families comprising 320 adult males, 442 women, and 890 children surrendered to the troops at different location within the period.

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“The air component, on August 20, carried out strikes on terrorists’ enclaves in Sambisa forest and the Tumbuns in Borno with various degrees of success recorded.

“Acting on credible intelligence about the gathering of terrorists at a location revealed to be the enclave of a notorious terrorist being hosted by a top-ranking commander.

“He is believed to be the ISWAP leader of Sambisa Forest who took over the leadership after the demise of Abubakar Shekau.

“Consequently, the air strikes were carried out on the enclave. Feedback revealed that 25 of the terrorists were neutralized in the strikes with 18 seriously wounded.

“Among those neutralised was a high-profile commander known as Uzaifa, who was the ‘MINZIR’, which connotes the fourth in line of the terrorist leadership structure.

“Similar air strikes were conducted in the Tumbuns near Lake Chad at a location revealed to be the training camp of the terrorists.

“Reports revealed that scores of the terrorists were neutralised in the strikes.

“All recovered items and rescued civilians were handed over to relevant authorities while the surrendered Boko Haram terrorist members and their families were profiled for further action,” he said.

The Star