The Nigerian Army said on Friday that troops of Operation Desert Sanity have killed Boko Haram spiritual leader and several other members of the terrorists group in Borno State.
According to Bernard Onyeuko, Director of Defence Media Operations, the terrorists were killed during a clearance operation in Borno, on Thursday.
“Troops of Operation Desert Sanity neutralized several ISWAP/BokoHaram terrorists including the Amir & spiritual head of Galta during an aggressive clearance operation around Manjo Ali Qere in Borno State on Thur 28 April 2022. Arms & Ammunition were also captured,” he said.
Onyeuko, who stated this while giving an update on the army’s operations, said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji also neutralized over 62 insurgents, arrested 79 others and rescued 179 kidnapped victims across the North-West region.
He said that the troops on April 10 eliminated scores of insurgents and rescued 50 victims comprising 32 women and 18 children at Wanzamai in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara.
Onyeuko said the troops have continued to record successes across Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states, adding that the development has led to the recovery of 592 rustled cattle, 45 different weapons, 80 rounds of different caliber ammunition and 50 motorcycles.
“All recovered items, rescued and apprehended insurgents were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” Onyeuko said.
He further said that Ibrahim Ali, the commander of Operation Safe Haven, handed over 517 small arms and light weapons recovered from criminals to the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
He gave the breakdown of the weapons to include 26 AK 47 rifles, one FN, two barreta rifles, three G3 rifles, six barreta pistols, nine harris bing pistols and one SMG.
Others, according to him, are 183 locally fabricated rifles, 163 dane guns, 102 locally fabricated pistols, 19 locally fabricated SMGs, six single barrel guns and pump-action gun.