Troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 120 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists within the theatre of operation in Borno State, the Defence Headquarters has revealed.
It said the troops attained the feat within the last three weeks of operations in the region.
This was disclosed by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, at a media briefing, adding that 50 other terrorists were also arrested within the period under review.
According to him, the troops consolidated their operational success against Boko Haram and ISWAP in various areas including; Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Kanduga, Damboa, Damasak, Gudumbali and Nganzi Local Government Area. Others include Kukawa, Chibok as well as Sambisa Forest, KirtaWulgo in Marte Local Government of Borno State.
He went further to say that the troops equally recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe State around Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Onyeuko said, “An ISWAP senior commander Mallam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of KirtaWulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorists were killed during the airstrike.
“Relatedly, the Air Component conducted airstrikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, BukarMairam, ChukumGudu and Jubilaram in Marte Local Government Area neutralized scores of terrorists including high profile Commanders while about 25 terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.
“The ISWAP armoury and warehouse were also destroyed and arrest of several terrorists, recovery of assorted arms, ammunition and captured their gun trucks and other weapons. Also, livestock and other items of security concern were recovered as well as rescued abducted civilians.”
He said that five gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists.
Additionally, the troops rescued 25 abducted civilians. Similarly, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to own troops deployed at different locations including Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, KirtaWulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya, all in Borno and Yobe states.
He highlighted that out of the 965 terrorists that surrendered within the period under review, 104 are from the ISWAP camp that surrendered to Nigerian troops at Marte. The General added that the surrendered terrorist have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.