Defence Headquarters on Sunday announced that its troops attached to Operation Hadin Kai neutralised over 70 terrorists fighters and at least three of their commanders hibernating in an enclave called Timbuktu Triangle in North East.
Tumbuktu Triangle has been one of the four notorious strongholds of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The other three are Sambisa Forest, the Mandara Mountain and the Lake Chad Tumbus.
Characterized by a collection of bushes, deserted open lands and wastelands with relatively ‘thick’ vegetation and tall grasses, the triangle stretches over four local government areas of Borno State—Damboa, Jere, Kaga, Konduga—and one, Gujba, in Yobe.
The terrorists control territories within and around the perimeter of the Triangle, which further brings several other local governments in the two States such as Biu, Damaturu, Gujba and Gwoza, among others, under their spheres of ‘influence’. They also coordinate all the attacks, abductions and ambushes that take place in the general area.
Earlier, the military had carried out clearance operations at the axis, deploying both air and ground troops of OPHK to dislodge the terrorists from their hideouts and scores were killed.
The military high command had ordered frontline troops to go after the terrorists hibernating and holding on to some places in Borno and Yobe States, culminating in the ground offensive launched launched in the area over the weekend.
Outgoing Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said in a statement on Sunday that the military lost 22 soldiers during the fierce encounter with the terrorists at different enclaves where they have been using as their stronghold.
General Buba, while revealing that the terrorists’ Special Forces Commander known as TALHA was neutralised by the gallant troops, added that the terrorists’ operations commander identified as Mallam Umar and the terrorists’ brigade commander known as Abu Yazeed were also wasted by the troops.
Buba also stated that the development got other terrorists combatants angry and they deployed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Person Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers) as well as Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (suicide bombers in explosive vehicles) in their revenge and to ward off troops advance and attacks..
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in North East of the country conducted clearance Operation to renowned terrorist stronghold and enclave known as Timbuktu Triangle.
“The three prong operation aimed at dismantling the terrorist presence with triangle commenced on 16 Jan 25 till date,” the senior military officer said in his official reaction.
The military spokesman noted that troops were already familiar with the terrorists’ tactics of deploying IEDs – the reason many attempts of the terrorists were thwarted including shooting down what he described as their “amateur drones”.
He added, “Troops recorded several encounters with terrorists during the course of the clearance operations which result in over 70 terrorists combatants including 3 notable terrorist commanders neutralized.
“Overall, during the course of the operations, troops sadly recorded 22 killed-in-action casualties with several others wounded in action.
“On this account, the media is enjoined to resist publishing names of troop casualties to allow the formal notification of their next of kin. On the whole, the operation is ongoing and the public will be updated on further developments in due course.”
