Military bombed many Boko Haram fighters during a mass burial organised by the sect for some of its fighters in the beginning of this month.
During a massive onslaught, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) killed more than 200 Boko Haram terrorists and five top Commanders on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
The Intelligence-Led Aerial And Ground Coordinated Operationhave killed many terrorists in a renewed air and ground offensive attack against the insurgents.
No fewer than 70 Boko Haram fighters reported drowned while trying to escape in Shehuri, a Borno community.
The Air Task Force, Troops Of 199 Special Forces Battalion And 222 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai, targeted terrorist hideouts in Gaizuwa, Gabchari, Sheruri, Mantari and Mallum Masari, villages located in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
A counter-insurgency Expert And Security Analyst In Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, said the successful operation led to the elimination of high-ranking commanders, including Abou Hauwa, (Munzir) Amir Shettima, Akura Buri(Nakif), Abou Zainab, Abou Idris and their fighters.
Sources said troops killed over 30 fighters while others escaped with bullet wounds during a gun battle at the terrorists’ hideout in Gafchari.
He said, “Similar strikes were also undertaken at Sheruri, when the combat aircraft attacked another location of fighters deployed to stage an ambush against ground troops.”
He said the Super Tucano scored devastating hits, killing two terrorist Commanders, Akura Buri (Nakif) and Abou Hauwa; with more than 63 of their fighters and foot soldiers.
“In another encounter with the terrorists during the robust fighting patrol, the troops succeeded in eliminating another score of insurgents in the axis of Mantari after a gun battle which lasted for about two and half hours.
“In Gazuwa, the troops destroyed two vehicles and the home of Abou Iklilima, which used to be a hideout to insurgent Leaders. Other makeshift tents and properties belonging to terrorists were also destroyed,” he said.
He added that few surviving terrorists who escaped the military raids returned on September 3 to recover the corpses of their dead fighters at Sheruri and Gabchari.
He added that they were able to recover more than 30 of the fighters who drowned in the river in Gabchari.
“Additional nine bodies who died as a result of bullet wounds were recovered around the bushes in Gaizuwa; among them were two Boko Haram Commanders, including; Abou Zainab, Abou Idris.
“While they were making preparations to conduct mass burial for their Mujahedeens, the military authorities acting on the intelligence deployed the Super Tucano to the location, killing unspecified numbers of them.”
The aftermath of the airstrike revealed that pandemonium broke out as the remnant of surviving terrorists took cover under nearby trees and later fled.
“The week-long sustained operations that were carried out simultaneously in different locations within the North East Theartre of Sambisa Forest by the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, has completely degraded the capabilities of the insurgents,” he said
