Troops of Operation Tura Takaibango, in renewed offensive, have continued to inflict heavy casualty on Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), the latest of which is the neutralization of two of the most wanted terrorist commanders, Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib.
In a statement issued today by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the troops of 121 and 151 Battalions of Sector 1, on Tuesday, 9 February, ambushed and sprang at BHTs crossing point between Vuria and Guja settlements along road Banki Junction – Pulka axis.
TheFact Nigeria gathered that apart from the neutralization of the two most wanted terrorists, the troops also recovered 3 x GPMG, 7 x AK47 rifles, a belt of ammunition containing 446 rounds of 7.62mm, one Boxer Motorcycle and one ITEL 2160 mobile phone among others.
Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib were among the top BHTs commanders of the Shekau faction operating in Sambisa forest and environs. The 2 BHT Commanders have been on the Intelligence watch-list for some time. Abul-Bas was a top commander second to Abu Fatima while Ibn Habib was the BHT Commander in charge of Njimia and Parisu camps in the Sambisa Forest.
“The neutralization of Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib by our gallant troops has inflicted a big blow on the operations of the terrorists and has further boosted the morale of our troops in the ongoing operation “Tura Takaibango”, the statement read.
While commending the troops for this feat and others being recorded in the theatre, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, also charged them to intensify the aggressive clearance operation in order to clear the Sambisa Forest and environs of all remnant terrorists and their collaborators.
