By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated a notorious ISWAP commander, Malam Jidda, along with dozens of his fighters, in a coordinated air and ground offensive in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and the Timbuktu Triangle in Borno State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued Tuesday in Maiduguri by Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai.
According to the statement, the operation commenced on June 9 in the Ngazalgana area of Gujba, with close air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
“Malam Jidda, identified as the Ameer of Ngorgore and Malumti villages, was killed during a fierce engagement with troops, who overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower,” the statement said.
It added that while some terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds, several others were neutralised during a follow-up ambush in the Timbuktu Triangle.
The army also confirmed that in ongoing operations around the Mallamfatori area of Abadam LGA where recent offensives had been recorded; troops discovered more bodies of slain terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and equipment.
Items recovered include AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, motorcycles, magazines, hand grenades, hand-held radios, large quantities of ammunition, and other logistics supplies.
Capt. Kovangiya emphasized that the renewed offensive, supported by precise and timely airstrikes, reflects the effectiveness of the military’s sustained counter-insurgency efforts.
He reaffirmed the Theatre Command’s unwavering commitment to decisively defeating Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents and restoring lasting peace and security to Nigeria’s North-East.
