52 terrorists were neutralized during various engagements with forces over the holiday season, according to Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
Along with the casualties, unknown numbers of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) members were also killed during airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets against terrorist strongholds in the North East, North West, and North Central regions of the country.
During the biweekly briefing, Maj-Gen. Musa Danmadami, Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), stated that the raids took place between December 22, 2022, and January 12, 2023.
During the encounters, 377 terrorists, along with their families, according to him,
surrendered to the military.
To control their operational zones, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) troops in the North East had to withstand the raids.
DHQ claims that between December 23 and December 30, 2022, troops on battle
patrols ambushed terrorists from Boko Haram and ISWAP in several places throughout the theater of operations. Five terrorists were defeated by troops in the confrontation at Kwatara village in Gwoza, while their administrative leader at Guduf, Umate Usman, was captured with bullet wounds.
Close to their deployment at Ngoshe in Gwoza, troops reportedly also confronted
militants.
Five terrorists were killed during the conflict, while others fled. Among other things,
troops found an AK-47 weapon, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 10 rounds of locally made 7.62mm special, 10 reloaded ammunition, and two hand grenades.
In Ngala, troops also came into contact with terrorists along Gamboru-Logomani, where they killed three of them and wounded several others as they escaped. Armed forces combed the area and seized six motorcycles, two AK-47 rifles, one FN rifle, an RPG tube and bomb, 94 rounds of NATO 7.62mm belt ammo, 66 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 30 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.
Danmadami claimed that after coming into contact with terrorists in Konduga’s Bulge village, forces neutralized four of them while the others fled. Two PKT machine guns, two FN rifles, fifteen 7.62mm NATO bullets, and a belt link holding sixty 7.62x51mm rounds were all found by the troops.
At terrorist hideouts, enclaves, and camps in Marte’s Suwa, Arina Woje, and Amchile,
the air component of OPHK carried out several air interdictions.
The attack, according to the mission’s director, was intended to target a sizable number of terrorists who had recently moved to the area after the flooding of Tunbuns in the Lake as well as ongoing fighting among the terrorist groups.
