A top ISWAP commander known as Ibn Ali has surrendered to Nigerian troops with his weapons and large supplies of ammunition in Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said.
This was revealed in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, on Saturday in Abuja. He noted that during major operations carried out between July 4 and July 10 under Operation Hadin Kai, troops cleared several areas including Platari, the Sambisa Forest, and the Timbuktu Triangle, killing many terrorists.
Kangye added that many terrorists, including men, women, and children, surrendered to troops as military pressure increased in different parts of the Northeast.
According to him, military operations were also conducted in Gwoza, Kaga, Mafa, Ngala, Abadam, Bama, Biu, Konduga, Damboa, and Dikwa LGAs in Borno, as well as in Madagali LGA of Adamawa.
“During the encounters, some terrorists were killed in action, five of their collaborators were arrested, while four kidnapped victims were rescued. Some quantities of arms and ammunition were also recovered,” he said.
He also noted that troops recovered and safely detonated some improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and seized N822,500 in cash during their operations. The DHQ confirmed that the high-ranking ISWAP commander Ibn Ali gave himself up to troops in Bama with his weapons and ammunition.
The Armed Forces, working alongside Hybrid Forces and other security agencies, continued joint operations combining both combat and non-combat methods, achieving key successes across various regions, Kangye said.
In the Northwest, troops carried out a major joint air and ground offensive under Operation Fansan Yamma on July 10 in Zamfara State, which led to the death of several terrorist leaders and commanders. Other operations in the area also led to the arrest of five suspects and the rescue of two kidnapped individuals.
In the North Central region, Operation Safe Haven troops killed several armed attackers, arrested 18 suspects, and freed seven kidnapped people in Plateau State. Weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and motorcycles were also taken from the criminals.
Kangye added that on July 6, during a patrol in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau, troops caught a suspected militia member preparing to attack travellers along the Kafi-Abu-Rakwok Road. Items found on him included a homemade AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, and 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
In Benue and Taraba states, troops under Operation Whirl Stroke killed several extremists during raids in Makurdi, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Karim Lamido, Takum, and Jalingo LGAs. They also arrested eight suspects and rescued two kidnapped victims.
Meanwhile, in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe troops stopped oil theft worth over N263.8 million. Items seized included 198,482 litres of stolen crude oil, 63,846 litres of illegally refined diesel, and 947 litres of petrol. Troops also destroyed 24 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, nine boats, 19 storage tanks, 21 drums, and 15 illegal refining sites. Eight suspects were arrested, and various arms and vehicles were confiscated.
In the Southeast, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested a logistics supplier linked to the Mother Valley IPOB/ESN camp in Ihiala LGA, Anambra. Four more suspected IPOB/ESN members or informants were also captured in Ihiala and Ehime Mbano LGAs in Anambra and Imo states.
