By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Nigerian military said its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole, killed top leaders and fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), in the Island settlements of the Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.
The military in a statement issued yesterday by Major General, John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said the operation took place on Monday.
He added that the massive simultaneous air strikes was executed under the subsidiary Operation Hail Storm at Kirta Wulgo and Sabon Tumbun, 2 settlements on the fringes of the Lake, where several key ISWAP leaders and scores of their fighters were killed.
Enenche said the missions were conducted on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that some ISWAP leaders and fighters had relocated to Sabon Tumbun due to the impact of the recent air strikes at the nearby Island settlement of Tumbuma Baba.
“Similarly, up to 15 high ranking ISWAP Commanders along with scores of their fighters were harboured at Kirta Wulgo, which serves as Administrative Headquarters and training camp for ISWAP.
“Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the 2 locations scoring devastating hits leading to the elimination of several of the terrorists. Prominent terrorists’ leaders, including Abu Imraana, ISWAP Naval Commander, as well as Mallam Ibrahim and Mallam Abba, are believed to be among the many ISWAP casualties.
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