Following an airstrike conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on 20 December 2022 at Mantari in Gezuwa area of Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that several terrorists including Khaids Abbah Tukur, Maimusari, Bakura Jega and several others were eliminated in the strike.
This was revealed when the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao met in Maiduguri on 25 December 2022 to celebrate the yuletide with frontline troops.
According to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet,
Director of Public Relations and Information,
Nigerian Air Force,
the air strike was authourized after it was discovered that a Boko Haram terrorist commander simply known as Ikirima, had stationed his fighters and gun trucks at Mantari village, alongside other terrorists from other locations who had converged at the same location arrived with motorcycles and bicycles.
The authorization for an air strike led to the elimination of several of the terrorists and structures in the area.
Some surviving terrorists who found their way back to the same location to evacuate the bodies of those neutralized in the air strike were also caught up in a follow-up strike.
According to Gabkwet, the action has been confirmed very successful as over 100 terrorists were neutralized with dozens said to be in critical condition.
The timely and successful air strikes has reduced their will to regroup and attack innocent citizens and there is no doubt that the progress and gains being made especially by the air and ground troops has greatly contained an upsurge of terrorists’ campaigns within the Northeast zone in recent times.
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