Nigerian troops operating under the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have killed a senior Boko Haram commander identified as Abu Khalid during a night operation in Borno State.
This was disclosed in a press release issued by the military and signed by the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
According to the statement, Abu Khalid was the second-in-command of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and played a central role in coordinating operations and logistics for the terrorist group in the area. He was killed alongside 10 other fighters during the operation.
The military said the encounter occurred during a night offensive carried out by troops of Sector 1, working in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), under Operation Desert Sanity. The troops reportedly made contact with the insurgents around 11:00 p.m. in the Komala general area of Konduga Local Government Area.
The operation came barely 24 hours after troops neutralised another Boko Haram/ISWAP commander, identified as Julaibib, in the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle.
Items recovered from the scene included five AK-47 rifles, magazines, bicycles, food supplies and a large cache of medical materials believed to have been used by the insurgents.
The military said no casualties were recorded among its personnel during the operation, adding that troops’ morale remains high as clearance operations continue across the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, the Timbuktu Triangle and other known insurgent hideouts in the North East.
The Joint Task Force (North East) reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations until all terrorist elements are dismantled and lasting peace and economic stability are restored to the region.
The military high command also commended the troops for their dedication and sacrifices, urging them to maintain the current operational momentum in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in the region.
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