Five Boko Haram Commanders, 150 Others Killed In Borno

Five Boko Haram commanders and 150 other terrorists have been reportedly killed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in Borno State.

CityNews Nigeria reports that a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Saturday.

Makama said the terrorists were killed during a bombardment of their hideouts in Gabchari, Sheruri, Mantari and Mallum Masari, villages in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

The counter-insurgency expert stated that the air task force, troops of 199 Special Forces Battalion and 222 Battalion in an operation targeted the terrorists.

Makama named the five slain Boko Haram commanders as Abou Hauwa, Amir Shettima, Akura Buri, Abou Zainab, Abou Idris and their fighters.

He said the air task force in a joint attack with ground troops deployed two Super Tucano jets which resulted in the killing of 70 Boko Haram fighters with many who tried to flee drowning in a river.

He wrote: “Similar strikes were also undertaken at Sheruri when the combat aircraft attacked another location of fighters deployed to stage an ambush against own ground troops.

“In another separate encounter with the terrorists during the robust fighting patrol, the troops succeeded in eliminating other scores of insurgents in the axis of Mantari after a gun battle which lasted for about two and half hours.

“In Gazuwa, the troops destroyed two vehicles and the home of Abou Iklilima which used to be hideouts to insurgent Leaders. Other makeshift tents and properties belonging to terrorists were also destroyed.

“Additional 9 bodies who died as a result of bullet wounds were recovered around the bushes in Gaizuwa, among them were two Boko Haram Commanders including; Abou Zainab, Abou Idris.

“While they were making preparations to conduct mass burials for their Mujahedeens, the military authorities acting on the intelligence, deployed the Super Tukano to the location, killing unspecified numbers of them.

“The week-long sustained operations that were carried out simultaneously in different locations within the North East Theatre of Sambisa Forest by the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, has completely degraded the capabilities of the insurgents.”