Nigerian Army troops eliminate top Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders
July 19, 2020 – The Nigerian Defence Headquarters says its “Operation Lafiya Dole” troops have eliminated top commanders and members of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in recent encounters in the northeast.
Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Enenche said the troops on July 17, killed six terrorists at Kolofata, a community on Republic of Cameroon border, in an attempt to cross towards Sambisa Forest axis.
“Weapons and equipment recovered from the terrorists include three AK47 rifles, a Magazine with 48 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Honda car, one motorcycle and eight bicycles.
“Other items recovered include three mobile phones with multiple SIM and memory cards as well as five copies of the Holy Qur’an, among others.”
Enenche further disclosed that the troops also intercepted a letter written in Hausa Language, addressed to Abu Fatima, one of the top Boko Haram commanders, documents and other logistics.
“Shortly after the successful operation, the enemy communication intercept confirmed killing of a top Boko Haram Commander named Sayinna and other fighters during the encounter.
“The other slayed terrorists were suspected to be Imam and Mansur to Abu Fatima who hibernate in Sambisa Forest,” Enenche said.
According to him, the troops continued their onslaught on the terrorists in the northeast, killing eight prominent leaders of the sect in their futile attempt to infiltrate Army Super Camp, Damasak.
Enenche noted that with troops’ doggedness, superior fire power and maneuvering skills, the terrorists were devastated and the rest escaped in total disarray.
He said the successes of the military, since the turn of the year 2020 is causing confusion and disharmony in the insurgents’ camps.
“This is evident by the frequent changes in ISWAP leadership within a short period of time, and this is largely due to the several losses inflicted on them by own troops in both men, weapons and equipment,” he said.
He listed the commanders to include: Tumbun Dabino (Ba Issoufou), Tumbun Bororo (Amir Batam), Tumbun Jaki (Almustapha), Tumbun Bagaruwa (Modou Kollo), Dogon Tchoukou (Issah), Tumbun Rakke (Mustapha Woulama) Tumbun Dila (Boukar Kowa) and Tumbun Mita (Abou Aisha).
Enenche said that series of successes recorded by the Nigerian Army so far had led to several of the insurgents surrendering in their numbers.
He said the insurgents have also voluntarily admitted that they were driven into becoming members of the armed group by quest for money, power, greed and criminality, and less of any ideology.
Enenche said the military high command has commended the security agencies operating in the northeast for the sustained successful operations.