Nigerian Military fighting insurgents in the northeast have killed one Mohammed Yusuf a notorious commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He was killed by airforce component component of the Operation Hadan Kai on Feb. 11, around Marte area of Borno State.
These were part of the successes of the military onslaught against the terrorists of the Boko Haram and ISWAP in the last two weeks.
Director of Defence Media Operation, at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Benard Onyeuko disclosed these developments when he briefed journalist in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, 466 terrorists surrendered while scores were killed in different operations within two the weeks from Feb. 10 to Feb. 24, 2022.
Onyeuko said the that those who surrendered comprised 120 adult males, 137 adult females and 209 children who General Onyeuko said, claimed that they had lost interest in the Boko Haram terrorists’ ideology.
Said he, “Cumulatively, troops eliminated six terrorists, arrested 26 and recovered cache of different calibres of arms and ammunition and four gun trucks.
“Also, 20 abducted civilian victims were rescued by the troops. The surrendered terrorists and arrested criminals have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate security agencies for necessary action,” he said.
He further disclosed that from Operation Hadarin Daji, troops recorded a major operational breakthrough when a notorious bandit known as Dogo Umaru, and scores of his fighters were eliminated in an air interdiction in Zamfara forest.
He said the operation led to the killing of 10 bandits, recovery of several arms and ammunitions and motorcycles as well as stolen livestock and rescue of 10 kidnapped victims.
From the Operation Safe Haven, the defence spokesman said the troops had sustained both kinetic and non-kinetic operations across Plateau and parts of Kaduna State.
Non-kinetic effort, General Onyeuko added, led to the convening of a peace summit between Irigwe youths and Fulani youths on Feb. 17 as a prelude to the implementation of peace plan to ensure lasting peace in the area disclosing further that the kinetic operations led to the arrest of six criminals and rescue of 60 displaced persons to Internally Displaced Persons camp during the period.
Operation Whirl Stroke also recorded operational successes through series of air interdictions on bandits’ enclaves in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state, killing over 75, the spokesman stated adding that troops also encountered bandits in Benue, killing five and rescued kidnapped victims during the period.
The Defence spokesman then commended the troops for the successes so far recorded in various theatres of operation, urging the public to continue to support the military in its effort to rid the nation of all forms of insecurity.