Troops, MNJTF kill 81 terrorists as 876 surrender in Northeast

The Defence high command said troops at the Northeast frontline neutralised about 26 terrorists in the last two weeks. Spokesman, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami, made the disclosure during a briefing on troops’ activities and successes at operational theaters within Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He said kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted at the theatres, with significant results recorded. He said troops of the Joint Task force (Operation Hadin Kai) sustained aggressive posture against Boko Haram terrorists, their Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) counterparts, and other criminal elements in the Northeast.

He said: “Between May 18 and June 1, 2023, troops conducted various offensive operations to identify terrorists’ hideouts, enclaves, camps and villages in the forests and mountains of Konduga, Abadam, Guzamala, Ngala, Bama, Dikwa, Gubio, Damboa, Jere, Kukawa and Magumeri.

“During these operations, troops made contact with terrorists, and following a fierce fire fight, troops neutralised 25 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and recovered seven AK-47 rifles, three training rifles, one AK-56 rifle, two K-2 assault rifles, one MC rifle, one pump action gun, two double barrel gun, two locally made pistols, 12 Dane guns, one locally made grenade, 12 AK-47 magazines, 100 rounds of 7.56mm ammo, five rounds of 12.7mm NATO, 172 rounds of 7.62mm special, 31 rounds of 7.62mm refilled and 28 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.

The spokesman added: “A total of 876 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and members of their families, comprising 89 adult males, 249 adult females and 538 children, surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.”

Also, troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) killed 55 ISWAP terrorists and commanders at the fringes of Arege, in Abadam Local Council of Borno State.

Several commanders were neutralised during a 22-day operation that ended on May 28, 2023 at Harbin Zuma, on the shores of Lake Chad. A counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri that 13 vehicles, motorcycles, and five Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED) were destroyed by the troops.

According to the Niger Ministry of Defence, the operation targeted ISWAP strongholds and their commanders in the Tumbums triangle. A military source in Maiduguri said commanders killed include Fiya Abouzeid, Qaid Malam Moustapha, and several religious leaders.