Two notorious terrorist leaders, known as Abdulkarim Faca-faca and Bem Bem, were among the 35 terrorists reportedly neutralised by the military in Katsina and Borno states.
Faca-faca went down during a series of bombing raids by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Safana Local Council of Katsina State.
The bombing, which was said to have been carried out on Saturday, with a mop-up operation on Sunday, also saw seven of Faca-faca’s men neutralised.
A source familiar with the incident said following the raids, several of the terrorists not affected by the bombing fled the scene with gunshot wounds, while rustled cows belonging to their slain leader perished.
House of Assembly member representing the area, Abduljalal Haruna, confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday, adding that he would make details available as they become clearer.
Similarly, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with the Air Task Force (ATF), reportedly killed 28 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including their commander, in Borno.
The terrorists were neutralised when ground troops foiled an attack on Bama community, 66 kilometres east of Maiduguri, the state capital.
A counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri: “The notorious commander, Alhaji Modu, aka Bem Bem, was killed on August 3, 2022, by military airstrikes in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Council.”
According to him, the coordinated operations followed credible intelligence showing that the ISWAP terrorists converged in large numbers to attack Bama Township, which was liberated in 2016 by the military.
He added that the fierce damage assessment indicated that the multiple airstrikes recorded devastating impact, as over a dozen terrorists were neutralised.
“Modu was a popular drug baron, who rose from an armed robber to Boko Haram kingpin that commanded dozens of fighters in forests and mountains,” he explained.
He said that Ali Ngoshe, a Boko Haram supervisor, and other fighters were hiding in the Mandara caves.
According to him, Ngoshe coordinated attacks from the caves in Nigeria, Cameroun and Niger Republic.
He further disclosed that terrorists attempted to attack Bama yesterday.
“Troops, however, responded with heavy fire power forcing the terrorists to abandon their mission,” he added.
HOWEVER, terrorists, in the wee hours of yesterday, shot two vigilante members dead and abducted one at Shola Quarters, in the Katsina State capital.
It was learnt that the terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked the community at about 1:30 a.m when most residents were fast asleep. They abducted one person and injured several others, some of whom are currently receiving medical attention at the hospital.
Located behind the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), recently converted to a Teaching Hospital, Shola Quarters is facing its second attack by terrorists in a little over one month.
The development has raised concerns over terrorists’ activities gradually moving into the heart of the state capital.
Governor Aminu Masari, who had often expressed concern over the security situation in the state, had called on residents to defend themselves against the terrorists.
At the time of this report, the spokesperson for the police command in the state, SP Gambo Isah, had yet to respond to an inquiry made on the incident.
Source: The Guardian
