Top Boko Haram commanders have been captured by troops attached to the 26 Task Force Brigade and 21 Special Armoured Brigade in a covert operation in Borno State.
Two of the captured suspects, Lawan Abubakar Umar Garliga and Bayaga Manye were said to be on the wanted list of the Nigerian Army.
Others were Alhaji Umaru, Goni Agwala, Momodu Shetene, Hassan Audu, Usman Manye AKA Yega, Ali Lawan, and Modu Mallum, all Boko Haram logistics suppliers, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Also apprehended were Modu Abubakar Jugudum, Bulama Ali, Umar Usman, Mustapha Alhaji Mele (Boko Haram Rifle man and vulcanizer), Abor Lassan, Mallum Ari and Mala Bala.
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu said in a statement.
“In yet another successful covert operation,” the statement said, “the combined troops of 26 Task Force Brigade, 21 Special Armoured Brigade and elements of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), while acting on a piece of intelligence, conducted a sting operation against some Boko Haram criminals hibernating around Pulka general area of Gwoza LGA, Borno State on 20th October 2019.
“The operation led to the arrest of 16 active Boko Haram members. Preliminary investigation reveals that some of the arrested suspects participated in the heinous attack on Pulka and Gwoza including the barbaric execution of some Nigeria Police personnel sometime ago.
“It is heart-warming to mention that 2 of the arrested Boko Haram criminals have been on the Nigerian Army most wanted Boko Haram list earlier published on Serials 41 and 90. The arrested suspects are: Lawan Abubakar Umar Garliga and Bayaga Manye ( on serial 41 and 90 respectively of the Nigerian Army most wanted Boko Haram list), Alhaji Umaru (a Boko Haram Logistics Supplier), Goni Agwala (Boko Haram Logistics supplier), Momodu Shetene (Boko Haram Logistics Supplier and bicycles repairer), Hassan Audu (Boko Haram Logistic Supplier), Usman Manye AKA Yega ( Boko Haram Logistics supplier ), Ali Lawan (Boko Haram Logistics supplier) and Modu Mallum (Boko Haram Logistics supplier).
“Others are, Modu Abubakar Jugudum, Bulama Ali, Umar Usman, Mustapha Alhaji Mele (Boko Haram Rifle man and vulcanizer), Abor Lassan, Mallum Ari and Mala Bala”.
The statement said Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has commended the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj Gen Olusegun Adeniyi as well as the officers and men of Operation Lafiya Dole for the operation.
Also, several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were on Monday killed as the Air Task Force of the Operation Lafiya Dole bombarded their hideout on the fringes of Lake Chad in Bornu State.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the operation was in continuation of the onslaught against terrorists in the Northeast.
He said, “In continuation of the sustained onslaught against terrorist elements in the Northeast of the Country, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralised several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters at Bukar Meram on the fringes of Lake Chad in the northern part of Borno State.
The operation was executed on 21 October 2019, based on credible intelligence reports that indicated a resumption of the use of the location to provide logistics support to the terrorists, using fishing activities as a cover. Accordingly, the ATF dispatched its attack aircraft to engage designated areas within the settlement.
“Before the strikes, over 35 terrorists were observed within the area of interest. The attack aircraft subsequently engaged the location in successive passes recording accurate hits on the target area, leading to the neutralization of several ISWAP fighters as well as the destruction of some of the structures.”
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