Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Air strikes conducted by the Air Components of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerien Air Force under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) yesterday killed 75 commanders and fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) in Lake Chad area.

THISDAY gathered that recent military intelligence showed that the joint air strikes undertaken on April 14, 2022, at Tumbun Rego and a training camp about 2km North-west of Tumbun Rego led to the elimination of five key ISWAP leaders including Ibn Usman, Hani Abdullahi, Abakar Shuwa, Abu Jibrillah and Abu Ali. 

Military sources affirmed that in the same air strike, over 70 other ISWAP terrorists were also killed and many others injured. 

It was further gathered that Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the suspected locations around the Tumbuns area had identified significant terrorists’ movements in Tumbun Rego and another training Camp about 2km away from Tumbun Rego. 

The location also served as an abode for some top ISWAP commanders. 

“The ISR earlier conducted on April 13, 2022, specifically sighted large number of terrorists, a likely logistics camp, about 29 motorcycles and four vehicles concealed under trees. 

“The need to attack the location, thus became inevitable so as neutralise the terrorists and soften the ground for troops of Op Lake Sanity to exploit”, a military source said.

“Using a mix of NAF and Nigerien Air Force fighter jets, the aircraft attacked and bombed the location in the early hours of April 14, 2022. 

“The reliable outcome of the strike has now revealed that over 70 ISWAP terrorists were either eliminated or severely injured. 

“Locals have also confirmed that the strikes and mop up operations by the Nigerian Army under Op Lake Sanity was successful. Clearly, there seem to be no hiding place for ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast especially with the capture of most of their enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the current onslaught in the Tumbuns”, the source said. 

“The increased coordinated and joint air strikes by NAF and Nigerien Air Force jets added an impressive aspect to the new type of operation being witnessed in the North-east, which should be commended”, he said.