In a significant counter-insurgency operation, Nigerian troops have eliminated two high-profile Boko Haram commanders and eleven other terrorists during a foiled attack in Borno State.
The successful operation was carried out by combined forces of the Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai in the Bitta and Wulgo communities of Gwoza Local Government Area.
The two slain commanders were identified as Abu Nazir, known as Munzir of Juye, and Abu Fatima, referred to as Munzir of Koloram. According to military sources, these commanders led separate failed attempts to attack the communities on Thursday and Friday, resulting in their deaths along with their fighters after troops engaged them in prolonged gun battles.
Theatre Commander Major General Abdulsallam Abubakar confirmed that the terrorists attempted to infiltrate both communities around midnight on Thursday.
Troops immediately responded with fierce resistance that continued into the early hours of Friday morning, ultimately repelling the attacks and neutralising the threat.
During the operation, security forces recovered six motorcycles belonging to the terrorists along with several AK-47 rifles and a substantial cache of ammunition. The military also reported that several other terrorists escaped the encounter with varying degrees of injuries, though the exact number remains unconfirmed.
Bitta and Wulgo count among the seven resettled wards in Gwoza LGA that were previously displaced when Boko Haram captured and briefly declared the area a caliphate in 2014.
While troops have since reclaimed these communities and the Borno State Government has facilitated the return of residents, the area continues to experience occasional attacks due to its proximity to the Mandara mountains and the Cameroonian border, where terrorists are known to maintain hideouts.
The successful defence of these communities represents another achievement for Operation Hadin Kai, which continues its efforts to maintain security in northeast Nigeria amid ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
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