The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that ongoing joint counter-terrorism operations involving Nigerian troops and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) have resulted in the killing of 175 ISIS fighters in the North-East.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Uba explained that the coordinated land and air offensives, launched several days ago, had significantly weakened the operational strength of the terrorist organisation.
He noted that the operations also destroyed several ISIS checkpoints, arms depots, logistics bases, military assets and financial structures supporting their activities.
According to him, a number of top ISIS commanders were among those killed, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as one of the group’s most prominent international operatives.
“Al-Minuki played a central role in ISIS external operations, including coordination of terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and attack planning targeting civilians,” he said.
Uba stated that the killing of al-Minuki had badly affected the group’s leadership structure, operational coordination and external attack networks.
Other prominent figures reportedly eliminated include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP senior commander linked to attack coordination and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, a senior operative; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a top media production operative.
The defence spokesman said the latest achievements further highlighted the continuous efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in identifying and eliminating terrorist groups across the country.
He added that the joint military operations would continue until all terrorist networks threatening national and regional security are dismantled.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with international partners, will continue to hunt down and destroy terrorists wherever they operate,” he said.
