Three notorious commanders, known as Abacha, Bakura and Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) had been eliminated.
The Director, Defense Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while giving update on operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja, adding that the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State
Buba said the air strike was conducted on Feb. 19, after the terrorists trailed them to Arinna Woje village, adding that the corpses of Abacha, Bakura, an indigene of Jibularam, Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists were recovered a day after the strikes.
He said the air component also launched strikes on terrorists who hijacked two articulated vehicles along Gurbin Baure-Jibia road on Feb. 20, adding that the terrorists diverted the vehicles and drivers to a forest feeder road at Dogon Karfe location in Katsina.
According to him, as a result of the strike, the drivers of the trucks and other victims escaped from the scene while some of the food stuff were salvaged.
He added that an air interdiction mission on Feb. 21 at Rugar Gamji and an abandoned primary school near Gidan Gwanki in Katsina, successfully destroyed and neutralised about 30 terrorists with their motorcycles that were hidden in the abandoned structures.
“On same day, seven motorcycle-riding terrorists were also neutralised at Gidan Guga in Katsina.
“On Feb. 24, air interdiction was conducted at Tsora Hill in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina. Feedback confirmed that over 20 terrorists were neutralised,” he said.
Buba said the air component of Operation Delta Safe also eliminated a kidnap kingpin, David Okpolowu, widely recognised as “2 Baba” in an airstrike in Ahoada Forest in Rivers.
He said that Okpolowu was notorious for terrorising the state and neighboring areas, adding that the airstrike was part of joint operations with the Nigerian Police in Port Harcourt.
