We Have Killed Top ISWAP Commanders – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters disclosed on Tuesday that the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole had killed some high-ranking leaders as well as fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group.

Defence Spokesman, John Enenche, said in a statement that the terrorists who operated in the Island settlements of the Lake Chad, near Borno State, were killed in simultaneous air strikes.

The mission, according to him, was executed on Monday under the subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM at Kirta Wulgo and Sabon Tumbun.

The locations serve as the administrative headquarters and training camp for ISWAP.

He gave further information on how the strikes were conducted.

He said: “The missions were conducted on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that some ISWAP leaders and fighters had relocated to Sabon Tumbun due to the impact of the recent air strikes at the nearby Island settlement of Tumbuma Baba. Similarly, up to 15 high ranking ISWAP Commanders along with scores of their fighters were harboured at Kirta Wulgo, which serves as Administrative Headquarters and training camp for ISWAP.”

He added: “Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gun ships to attack the two locations scoring devastating hits leading to the elimination of several of the terrorists.”

The defence spokesman gave the names of the sect leaders killed to include Abu Imraana, ISWAP Naval Commander, as well as “Mallam Ibrahim and Mallam Abba, believed to be among the many ISWAP casualties.”