Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in collaboration with the Air Task Force (ATF) have killed 28 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists including their commander in Borno state.
The terrorists were neutralized, while the ground troops foiled an attack on Bama community, 66 kilometres east of Maiduguri, the state capital.
A Counter-Insurgency expert and Security Analyst, Zagazola Makama, yesterday (Sunday) in Maiduguri, disclosed: “The notorious commander, Ahhaji Modu, aka Bem Bem was killed on August 3, 2022 by military airstrikes in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza local council.”
According to him, the coordinated operations followed credible intelligence reports, showing that the ISWAP terrorists converged in large numbers to attack Bama Township, liberated in 2016 by the military.
Besides, he added that the fierce damage assessment indicated that the multiple airstrikes recorded devastating impact, as over dozen insurgents were neutralized.
He said that several terrorists also fled with gunshot wounds towards Sambisa Forest and the Mandara mountains.
On roles of the killed commander, he said: “Modu was a popular drug baron, who rose from an armed robber to Boko Haram kingpin that commands dozens of fighters in forest and mountains.
He added that the commander fully participated in the seizure of Bama to become Boko Haram Caliphate in 2014.
He said that Ali Ngoshe, a Boko Haram supervisor along with other fighters are currently hiding in the Mandara caves.
According to the analyst, Ngoshe coordinates attacks from the caves in Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
This was coming as The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, charged Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operational Commanders to ‘show no mercy’ and ensure they employ maximum firepower against terrorists posing security threats in the country.
Besides the neutralization, he further disclosed that terrorists made an attempt to attack Bama in the early hours of Sunday.
Continuing, he added: “Troops however, responded with heavy fire power forcing the terrorists to withdraw and abandoned their mission.
“An attack by a gang of terrorists on Bama Township was this morning quelled by the Nigerian troops,” assuring that there is no cause for any alarm, as the terrorists were chased and in pursuit of the fleeing fighters.
