A Super Tucano airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force has eliminated an Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Mallam Ari and other foot soldiers, including foreign fighters.
The NAF operation under Operation Hadin Kai took out the terrorists at Kirta Wulgo in Borno State.
Mallam Ari who according to reports was the ISWAP Commander in charge of the area, and other mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for the terrorist organization were killed in the attack.
A military officer told PR Nigeria that the location was targeted after intelligence revealed scores of insurgents converging at Northeast Kirta Wulgo.
“Some were seen with weapons around a make-shift structure, a likely indication that the structure might have had a high calibre terrorist target.
“The structures were burnt and destroyed at the fringes. Several ISWAP fighters were neutralized including Mallam Ari, the Fiya of Kirta Wulgo,” he was quoted to have said.
The Fiya title is held by the second in the hierarchy of the terrorists’ military structure.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed that the NAF indeed carried out some strikes in areas around Kirta Wulgo, but remained silent as the number or identities of the casualties.
ISWAP leadership recently made sweeping changes to their structures due to the loss of some of its key members killed mainly through air strikes by NAF aircraft.
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