By Nurat Uthman
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised three commanders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and several other fighters in Marte and Kukawa in Borno State.
The commanders include Abou Maimuna, Abou Zahra, and ‘Commander’ Saleh.
Sources disclosed that the operations, which were coordinated by the new Air Component Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Air Commodore UU Idris, were executed on January 10 after a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft spotted the terrorists moving in canoes.
A counter-insurgency expert with vast knowledge of Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the operation, said the fighters were neutralised in successive strikes by the attack aircraft as they attempted to flee the location.
Sources confirmed that the three commanders and some of their lieutenants on the canoe met their Waterloo during the strikes.
Further revelations showed that other strikes were carried out around Ali Sherifti or Kwatan Shalla around the Kukawa axis, where another unconfirmed number of ISWAP terrorists were killed.