In a renewed onslaught to clear the remnants of fighters of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) and ground troops have killed scores of jihadists and three of their commanders.
The latest operation carried out in Marte and Kukawa in Northeast Borno state resulted in the killing of Abou Maimuna, Abou Zahra and Commander Saleh, all commanders of ISWAP.
The operations was coordinated by the new Air Component Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, of the Nigerian Military, Air Commodore U. Idris after Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft spotted the terrorists moving in canoes.
The terrorists were neutralized in successive strikes by the fighter jets as they attempted to flee their locations.
Sources confirmed that the three Commanders and some of their lieutenants on the canoes were killed in the air strikes.
In continuation of the operation, other strikes were carried out around Ali Sherifti in Kukawa axis where another unconfirmed number of ISWAP terrorists were killed.
Troops successfully neutralized scores of Boko Haram fighters during the week-long offensive against terrorists in the northeast.
The land and air offensive which began on January 7, 2024, as part of Operation Desert Sanity III, also resulted in the clearance and destruction of over 25 terrorist camps in the Sambisa Forest and the Timbuktu Trianglen in the Lake Chad region in Borno axis.
Troops of the 21 Armored Brigade in Bama in Borno state also encountered terrorists in Ukuba, Sambisa, and engaged them with heavy firepower resulting in the death of 11 ISWAP fighters.
The troops recovered various weapons and equipment, including one anti-aircraft gun, one rocket-propelled grenade tube, one general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), two RPG chargers, five AK-47 rifles, a terrorist flag, two pickup vans, and one grinding machine mill, among other items.
Continuing their offensive operations deeper into the Sambisa Forest, the troops cleared areas such as Garin Abu Umaru, New/Old Mjimia, Garin Munzo, Alafa 1, and Alafa 2.
An alleged Amir of Garin Munzo and five other fighters were intercepted and neutralized, while newly established camps were discovered and destroyed.
Simultaneously, the troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade advanced and cleared Boko Haram enclaves in Amadaga Madachi and Amadaga villages in Gwoza local government area in Borno.
In another encounter, the troops of the 159 Battalion and 199 Special Forces Battalion, in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), cleared terrorist enclaves at Balar, Yaro Bulamari, Yaro Goni Krumidi, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Umaradi.
In Northeast Yobe State, the troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade continued their advances and cleared the area of Gol. They discovered and safely detonated one IED.
The terrorists fled the scene, abandoning 67 bags of assorted grains in an underground storage, along with ammunition.
Additionally, the troops ambushed and neutralized two ISWAP terrorists at Katarko along the road to Yobe State University and recovered two AK-47 rifles.
As the offensive persisted, troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade cleared Galengi and Dusuri. About 2 km ahead of Tobolo, contact was made with enemy combatants. The troops engaged the terrorists in a gunfight, killing two and recovering their weapons.
The troops also cleared Arimarim and Koborori villages. Before reaching Galengi, they encountered and neutralized one terrorist, recovering a dane gun. A terrorist camp was set ablaze during the operation.
Commending the efforts of the military in a proactive approach to finally clear terrorists out of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu on Jan 16, 2024 assured that his administration would stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping gangs.
Tinubu who was at the launch of two books written on immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, said his administration would not rest until every agent of darkness was rooted out of the country, assuring the nation that the insurgency which started in 2009 that has consumed over 65,000 people and displaced more than 2.1 million others would soon end.
Boko Haram and other terrorist gangs have also destroyed schools, electric and telecommunication infrastructure and rendered agriculture inaccessible.
“My government will stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping gangs.
“We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out,” Tinubu said.
He recalled that former President Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period of our national life when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over some territories in North-East.
“At a point, it appeared that even Abuja, the seat of government would fall into the hands of Boko Haram with the bombing of the United Nations (UN) Building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations.
“We cannot easily forget how our armed forces battled the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad where they no longer pose existential threat to our sovereignty.
“I must say the job of securing every inch of our country is yet to be finished“, Tinubu said.