NAF Jets Kill Scores Of Boko Haram Terrorists During Burial Of Slain Commanders

Scores of Boko Haram terrorists were reportedly killed on Tuesday by multiple airstrikes by two Nigerian Air Force Super Tukano jets.

Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that the terrorists were neutralized in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State during a burial arrangement for some of their commanders and fighters who were killed in an ambush earlier by troops of the Nigerian Army.

A counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad Region, Zagazola Makama, confirmed the event in a statement on Wednesday (yesterday), noting that the terrorists were neutralized after intelligence revealed that they had assembled at Mantari to hold special funeral prayers for the fighters and commanders killed in the December 21 air strikes.

Makama also disclosed that intelligence reports indicated that following the air strikes, severely injured members were seen giving medical treatment in a location about 500 metres West of Mantari.

Meanwhile, military sources had told reporters that several Boko Haram terrorists met their waterloo in a recent military offensive under Operation Hadin Kai conducted in Shehutari, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

This is in addition to several others wounded, while the surviving terrorists were seen scampering for safety into the thick trees in different directions.

NAF Hits Boko Haram Strong Hold, Confirms Killing Of Terrorists Commanders, 100 Insurgents In Borno 

In a report earlier, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed the killing of two terrorist commanders during air interdictions carried out by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai at the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Naija News had earlier on Sunday reported the killing of the commanders of Boko Haram in the North-East.

In a statement titled, ‘Terrorists kingpins Khaids Abba Tukur, Bakura Jega, others confirmed neutralised in Air strikes as COAS and CAS fete troops in Maiduguri’ by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, revealed the terrorists as Khaids Tukur and Bakura Jega, adding that over a hundred terrorists were also killed during the air raid.

According to the NAF spokesperson, the air raid was conducted after it was discovered that the commanders had placed their foot soldiers at strategic positions in the area.

The statement read, “Following an airstrike conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on 20 December 2022 at Mantari in Gezuwa area of Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, it has now been confirmed that several terrorists including Khaids Abbah Tukur, Maimusari, Bakura Jega, and several others were eliminated in the strike.

“The information was received just as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao arrived Maiduguri earlier today, 25 December 2022 to celebrate the yuletide with frontline troops.

“The air strike was authorised after it was discovered that a Boko Haram terrorist commander simply known as Ikirima, had stationed his fighters and gun trucks at Mantari village, alongside other terrorists from other locations who had converged at the same location arrived with motorcycles and bicycles.

“Subsequently, the authorisation for an air strike was given leading to the elimination of several of the terrorists and structures in the area.

“After the first wave of air strikes, some surviving terrorists found their way back to the same location to evacuate the bodies of those neutralised in the air strike.

“This thus provided an opportunity for a follow-up strike on the same location which has been confirmed very successful as over 100 terrorists were neutralised with dozens said to be in critical condition.

“There were also confirmed reports that ISWAP and Boko Haram elements had perfected plans to resume active hostilities in the wake of the yuletide and forthcoming general elections.

“The timely intelligence received on their plans especially their attempt to attack soft targets in Bama LGA thus helped in the successful air strikes which reduced their will to regroup and attack innocent citizens.

“There is no doubt that the progress and gains being made especially by the air and ground troops have greatly contained an upsurge of terrorists campaigns within the Northeast zone in recent times.

“Both air and ground troops have, however, been cautioned on the need to remain focused on the end state.”