Security forces eliminate 50 extremists, high-ranking ISWAP leader in northern region

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have ramped up their efforts in the North-East, taking out over 50 terrorists, including a high-ranking ISWAP commander, and apprehending multiple collaborators in Borno.

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This development is outlined in an operational report released to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, which highlights the military's recent successes.

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The military's major breakthrough came after a precision airstrike near Kirta and Arina Ciki, resulting in the death of several terrorist commanders, including Khalifa Umar, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council.

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The sustained air offensive has put pressure on the insurgents, forcing them to abandon their island strongholds and relocate to the mainland.

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In separate operations in Maiduguri and surrounding areas, troops have arrested three suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers and informants, as well as a deserter soldier who had gone AWOL with his weapon and was later linked to criminal activities.

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Items seized from the suspects include a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and other materials used to support terrorist operations.

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Troops have also conducted fighting patrols in the Kukawa axis, engaging fleeing terrorist scouts and recovering ammunition in the process.

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The North-East theatre remains at the forefront of Nigeria's ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under Operation Hadin Kai, with the region having borne the brunt of the conflict for years.

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Coordinated air and ground offensives have been targeting ISWAP and JAS enclaves across the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa axis, with recent operations incorporating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with precision airstrikes.

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This evolving strategy has forced insurgents to abandon their fortified island enclaves and disperse into smaller cells, making them more vulnerable to pursuit operations.

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The latest operations are part of continued efforts to weaken terrorist leadership, disrupt supply chains, and restrict the freedom of movement of terrorists across the state and adjoining border corridors.

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The military has stated that operations will be sustained to further degrade terrorist capabilities and restore normalcy in the region.