By Fola James
The death of key Boko Haram/ ISWAP commanders in the hands of Nigerian troops, two days ago did not go down well with the insurgents. They have fought back in a ferocious manner.
On Saturday, many terrorists were killed and their structures destroyed in air strikes conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole at Durbada, the Nigerian military said.
The military had yet to disclosed the names of commanders killed in the air raids.
But barely few hours after the Defence Headquarters, DHQ announced the killings of leaders of the group, the rampaging terrorists launched fresh attacks on Geidam, a local government in Yobe state, a move analysts described as a fight back by the fleeing insurgents.
The insurgents have suffered serious casualty in the hands of both Nigerian and Chadian troops in the last few days.
Their recent setback also came on the crest of the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, two weeks ago, to Borno state, the theatre of war in the battle against terrorism.
The military have been trenchantly criticized for not doing enough to completely wiping out the insurgents.
The DHQ, however, disclosed on Monday that troops have successfully neutralized hideouts of Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups in Borno State, and there top commanders killed.
Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, in a statement on Monday, said the insurgents are now on the run.
According to him, the terrorists were killed and their structures destroyed in air strikes conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole at Durbada.
He said “The operation was executed on 17 April 2020 on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports, which were confirmed by series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, indicating that the settlement was one of the locations where some of the terrorists’ hierarchy often hibernates.
Fighter jets dispatched by the Air Task Force took turns in attacking the location, scoring accurate hits within the target area which resulted in the death of some of the terrorists.”
General Enenche added that others, who were seen attempting to flee the area had also been taken out.
He said the Nigerian Armed Forces would continue to sustain the offensive against the terrorists until they are completely wiped out.
The Defence spokesperson said the operation will continue until the federal government’s objective of restoring peace and security in the North East is attained.
