…Incapacitated notorious kidnap kingpin ” 2 Baba” among others.
As the insurgent war continues unabated the military on Thursday says a total of 974 terrorists were neutralised in a series of operations in support of national security interest in February.
Air raids by components of Nigerian Air Force engaged in operations also neutralized three Commanders of ISWAP/BHT identified simply as Abacha,Bakura and Babangida. The air component also took on a notorious kidnapper kingpin David Okpala Okpolowu also know as “2 Baba” and incapacitated him with wounds .
The 3 commanders were took out on 19 February 2024, in airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in Marte Local Government Area, in Borno State after the terrorists were trailed around a remote village in Arinna Woje suspected to be IED factory in the North West.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this in Abuja said that a day after the strikes, the bodies of the 3 Commanders including Abacha, Bakura, an indigene of Jibularam, Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists were later recovered.
He said that 621 terrorists were arrested within the month while 466 kidnapped hostages were rescued by troops.
According to him, not less than 1,573 assorted weapons and 23,345 assorted ammunition were recovered by troops from the terrorists and violent extremists groups in February while an estimated sum of over N8,006,996,894.00 worth of crude oil products were denied oil thieves.
A breakdown of items seized and recovered by troops in the month of February includes but not limited to the following: “640 AK47 rifles, 248 locally fabricated guns, 93 pump action guns, 168 dane guns, 15,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6,102 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 512 rounds of 9mm and 2,132 live cartridges.”
Others are 8,993,245 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,062,635 litres of illegally refined AGO, 18,950 litres of DPK and 45,950 litres of PMS amongst other item.
Major General Buba said “certainly, if these terrorist groups don’t come to the table in peace. The armed forces will continue to punish them with overwhelming military force,” adding that “we recently took delivery of additional air platform to further enhance our lethal capabilities.”
He dismissed insinuation that not much is being achieved, he said contrary to the opinion of some, troops are making significant strides and recording notable successes in operations across the country. “Though it might not seem so to some, the fact remains remarkable progress is being made.”
The Director said that for instance,
on 21 February 2024, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air interdiction following intel on convergence of terrorists group in an abandoned school in North West of Rugar Gamji.
The location was subsequently acquired and engaged with rockets. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed.
While on 24 February 2024, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air interdiction on terrorists kingpin Maudi enclave in Safana LGA of Katsina State. The location was observed to be active with terrorists activities. Subsequently the location was acquired and attacked with bomb and rockets in multiple passes and battle damage assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed.
Similarly, on 21 February 2024, following report, troops with DSS operatives tracked and arrested 2 suspected violent extremists/gunrunners in Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State. Suspects identified as Janaidu Mohammed and Nasiru Bello on their way to deliver ammo in an undisclosed location in Zamfara State and a recovered 397 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 mobile phones.
In same vein, on 23 February 2024, a kidnap kingpin, David Okpala Okpolowu, widely recognized as “2 Baba,” notorious for terrorizing Rivers State and neighboring areas, succumbed to injuries sustained in an airstrike conducted by the NAF Air component of of OPDS in Ahoada Forest, Rivers State.
The airstrike, which was part of a joint operations with the Nigerian Police in Port Harcourt, was initiated based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of “2 Baba” and his criminal gang hiding in the swampy forest.
The precise targeting of the strike was the complete obliteration of the gathering but reliable human intelligence confirmed that “2 Baba” was among the survivors who sustained severe injuries from the airstrike but succumbed to his injuries at another location, he added.
He recalled that David Okpala Okpolowu AKA “2 baba” has been evading authorities for several months following his alleged involvement in the ruthless murder of Bako Angbasim, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. The incident resulted in the killing and dismemberment of DPO’s body.