Troops fighting insurgency in the North-East have taken out a top commander of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Mallam Jidda, in a major military operation across parts of Yobe and Borno states.
The operation, which took place on Sunday, 9 June, targeted terrorist hideouts in Ngazalgana, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, and the notorious Timbuktu Triangle in Borno. It involved a combination of ground troops and precise air strikes from the Nigerian Air Force.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for Operation Hadin Kai, Mallam Jidda was killed in the heat of battle.
“Mallam Jidda, who was identified as the Ameer of Ngorgore and Malumti villages, met his end during a fierce engagement with troops, who overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower,” the army said.
Though some fighters escaped with injuries, others were not so lucky. In a follow-up ambush by troops in the Timbuktu Triangle, more terrorists were killed, tightening the noose around one of ISWAP’s most active corridors.
As troops continued sweeping through the Mallamfatori area of Abadam LGA, they discovered more dead terrorists and seized a significant cache of weapons and equipment.
Among the items recovered were AK-47 rifles, motorcycles, rocket-propelled gun tubes, hand grenades, radio sets, magazines, and a large stock of ammunition.
“The renewed offensive underlines the effectiveness of the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts by Operation Hadin Kai, supported by precise and timely air strikes,” the army noted.
Captain Kovangiya also stressed that the Theatre Command remains focused on one goal: wiping out Boko Haram and ISWAP, and bringing lasting peace to the North-East region.
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