The Defence Headquarters has said that troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have eliminated 42 Boko Haram insurgents in the past two weeks in the North-East.
The Director , Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, who disclosed this Thursday, in Abuja, while reviewing the progress of the ongoing military campaign against insurgency, said that 3,858 terrorists, including six top commanders and their families surrendered to troops in the theatre of operation.
According to him, troops took the battle to Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) enclaves with more coordinated operations.
Explaining further, Onyeuko said that more than 21 terrorists were killed in an air interdiction operation conducted by the Air Component of OPHK on Monday, July 11, at Tumbum Jaki and Tumbum Murhu near Lake Chad in Borno.
Onyeuko disclosed that the six terrorists’ commanders surrendered to troops at Gwoza, and listed them as Malam Mala Hassan (Wali), Ali Madagali (Munzur), Musa Bashir (Chief Anur), Buba Dahiru (Munzur), Jafar Hamma (Kaid) and Abbali Polisawa.
“Also, about 3,858 Boko Haram terrorists and their families surrendered between July 1 and July 14, comprising 505 males, 1,042 females and 2,311 children,” the director said.
The spokesman said that during the period, the troops also neutralised an unspecified number of terrorists in different encounters at Gamage village in Dikwa Local Government Area, Dikwa – Gamborou-Ngala road and Pulka – Gwale road in Borno.
According to him, several terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators have been arrested with different items at various locations within the theatre, among whom were two women identified as Hauwa Gambo and Khadija Dirsa.
“Consequently, troops neutralised 42 terrorists, arrested 10, captured 17 AK47 rifles, 1 QTC rifle, 1 RPG bomb, 1 RPG tube, 5 hand grenades, 120 rounds of 5.5mm and 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he said.
Other items, Onyeuko disclosed, include 151 rounds of 7.62mm NATO; 60 rounds of 12.7 108mm, 2 ammo links, 5 Dane guns, 8 rounds of fabricated 7.62mm ammunition, 1 smoke grenade, 2 locally made explosives, 23 empty AK47 magazines, and 5 FN magazines.
He said the surrendered terrorists and their families were being profiled and documented while recovered items and apprehended suspected terrorists had been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
