Over 30 terrorists have been killed including three commanders of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) as military air strike hit their hideouts within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad.
This was confirmed in in a statement issued by AVM Edward Gabkwet, the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
According to him, the airstrikes conducted on April 13 were a decisive blow against terrorism in the North-East.
He said the operation yielded significant success as the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted post-strike revealed the neutralisation of over 30 terrorists.
Gabkwet said that among those neutralised were some senior commanders of the insurgents, including Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari.
“Additionally, numerous vehicles, motorcycles, and logistical assets were destroyed, severely hampering the terrorists’ operational capabilities.
“Intelligence gathered after the air strike further indicated that the aerial bombardment effectively obliterated a key facility within the Kolleram enclave, which served as a hub for the terrorists’ food processing activities, including grinding machines.
“The success of these airstrikes underscores NAF’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.
“By neutralising key terrorist figures and destroying their logistical infrastructure, the operation has significantly degraded the capabilities of the ISWAP group in the region.
“These airstrikes complement the ongoing efforts of ground forces on the Lake Chad flank and represent a crucial step forward in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,” he said.
Recently, troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly killed 11 ISWAP fighters and destroyed 25 camps of the terrorists in Sambisa forest and Timbuktu Triangle in Borno state.
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