The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday, that a key member of Islamic State of West Africa Province,ISWAP,’ Shura Council Mallam Ali Kwaya and more than 55 other terrorists were neutralized in the past two weeks of fighting.
The encounters with Nigerian troops at various theatres across the country have been fierce in last weeks in some part of North East, North West , North Central, South East and South South were insurgent and economic saboteurs are ruthlessly operating.
Mallam Ali Kwaya, a prominent member of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Shura Council and Mallam Bukar Mainoka were neutralized in air strikes.
Director of Defence Media Operations,Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this during the bi-weekly news conference in Abuja for the period that covered November 4 to 16 ,2022.
He said that beside this number of casualties inflicted on the insurgent there were an unspecified large number of them , the occupants of 15 terrorists trucks that was hit in airstrikes in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State during the week.
According to Danmadami not less than 39 Ak47 rifles were recovered from terrorists by the troops in the past two weeks.
Military operations in the country have been aggressively sustained against the activities of terrorist elements, economic saboteurs, and criminal elements, he asserted.
According to him, troops of operation HADIN KAI conducted operational activities in villages and communities within and around Kaga, Damboa, Bama, Ngazai and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State, which resulted in significant achievement.
“Troops ambushed Boko Haram Terrorists along road Darel Jamel-Kirawa and Awulari village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. During the encounter, troops neutralized 5 of the terrorists while others fled with gun shot wounds.”
A further troops exploitation of the area led to the recovery of 3 AK47 rifles, 15 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 hand grenades, 2 fabricated 7.62mm special, 25 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 10 livestock, 9 bicycles and the rescued of 6 civilians earlier abducted by the terrorists
Similar military operations in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force were conducted in Mulimari village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State on 8 November 2022, and in clearance operations troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 8 bicycles among other items.
Also, on November 3, 2022, troops arrest a notorious Boko Haram Terrorist logistic supplier whose name was not mention. Danmadami said the supplier who was in his residence in Damboa Town Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State has been on troops watch list.
The clampdown on terrorists suppliers and collaborators also saw the arrest of
an unnamed Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists collaborator in Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno State with the sum of N8,259,510.00.
Air components of Operation HADIN KAI also carried out several air strikes attempts to clear remnants of terrorists and insurgent .
The Defence Headquarters said that a
feedback after the strikes revealed that Mallam Ali Kwaya, a key member of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Shura Council and Mallam Bukar Mainoka were among those neutralized in the strikes.
In his contribution at the conference the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force , Air Commodore ,Edward Gabkwet said NAF is equipped and is taking the fight to criminals hideouts with precise air strikes.