Dare Babalola
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that Nigerian troops, working alongside the United States Africa Command, killed more than 20 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a coordinated air operation in Nigeria’s North-East.
According to the military, the operation was carried out around Metele after intelligence reports revealed the movement and gathering of suspected terrorists in the area.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
He said the air strikes targeted ISIS/ISWAP fighters observed regrouping before the attack was launched, noting that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and deny insurgents safe havens across the region.
“The coordinated strikes resulted in the elimination of more than 20 terrorists,” the statement said, describing the mission as a significant success in the military’s counter-insurgency campaign.
The DHQ added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with the US Africa Command, would sustain operations aimed at weakening terrorist capabilities in the North-East.
According to the military, the operations are designed to disrupt terrorist movements, eliminate fighters from the battlefield, and prevent insurgents from regrouping.
Maj.-Gen. Uba reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that terrorists would not be allowed any safe haven within the country.
The latest operation comes amid growing counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, following recent reports of a joint mission that reportedly neutralised a senior ISIS-linked figure in the region.
