February 29, (THEWILL) Airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised three notorious terrorist commanders and 22 other jihadists in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Director, Defense Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while giving an update on operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the air strike was conducted on February 19, after the terrorists were trailed to a remote village at Arinna Woje. He said the bodies of the three commanders, including Abacha, Bakura, an indigene of Jibularam, Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists were later recovered a day after the strikes.
Another airstrike was also launched on terrorists who hijacked two articulated vehicles along the Gurbin Baure-Jibia road on February 20. Buba said the terrorists diverted the vehicles and drivers to a forest feeder road at Dogon Karfe location in Katsina.
He added that an air interdiction mission on February 21 at Rugar Gamji and an abandoned primary school near Gidan Gwanki in Katsina, successfully destroyed and neutralised about 30 terrorists with their motorcycles that were hidden in the abandoned structures.
“On same day, seven motorcycle-riding terrorists were also neutralised at Gidan Guga in Katsina. On Feb. 24, air interdiction was conducted at Tsora Hill in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina. Feedback confirmed that over 20 terrorists were neutralised,” he said.
Buba said the air component of Operation Delta Safe also neutralised a kidnap kingpin, David Okpolowu, widely recognised as “2 Baba” in an airstrike in Ahoada Forest in Rivers. He said that Okpolowu was notorious for terrorising the state and neighbouring areas, adding that the airstrike was part of joint operations with the Nigerian Police in Port Harcourt.
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