Troops Eliminate Top ISWAP Commander, Foreign Fighter, Destroy Hideouts in Borno
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have intensified ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Borno State, destroying a suspected ISWAP hideout, recovering arms and recording significant setbacks for the terrorist group following the reported killing of a senior commander and a foreign fighter during recent military engagements.
Military sources said troops of the 145 Battalion (Mechanised) carried out a clearance operation at about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Layi general area of Gubio Local Government Area following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
The operation, led by the Commanding Officer of the battalion, forced the insurgents to flee on sighting the advancing troops.
The soldiers subsequently overran and destroyed the terrorists’ hideout before conducting a thorough exploitation of the area, recovering one pump-action rifle and three AK-47 magazines abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
The troops also extended the operation to Mallamti Ganyawa village to dominate the area and deny terrorists freedom of movement. However, no contact was made with the insurgents.
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The operation was completed without casualties, and all troops returned safely to base. Military sources described the security situation in the area as relatively calm but unpredictable, noting that troops remain on high alert while sustaining offensive operations across the North East theatre.
In a separate development, intelligence sources disclosed that a senior ISWAP commander, identified as Abu Hassan, was killed during the recent terrorist attack on Cross Kauwa in Borno State.
Abu Hassan, described as one of the group’s Qaids operating from the Tumbunma axis, reportedly led the assault on Cross Kauwa before being neutralised during the confrontation.
The sources also revealed that an unidentified foreign fighter believed to be of Arab origin was killed during the clash.
Another ISWAP commander, Aliyi Zabarmari, who reportedly led fighters from the Tumbunma enclave, sustained a gunshot wound that fractured his thigh during the fighting.
Intelligence reports further indicated that another suspected Arab fighter remains missing and is believed to have disappeared following the failed attack.
Security sources described the reported deaths and injuries among the terrorist leadership as a major operational setback for ISWAP, noting that the affected commanders played critical roles in coordinating attacks across the Lake Chad region.
The latest developments underscore the sustained pressure being mounted by Nigerian troops against terrorist networks as Operation HADIN KAI continues offensive operations aimed at dismantling insurgent strongholds and restoring lasting peace in the North East.
By PRNigeria
