The military says the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole took out some leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province elements operating in the Island settlements of the Lake Chad in the northern part of Borno State.
In a statement on Tuesday, the coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said this occurred on 24 August in air strikes executed under the subsidiary Operation Hail Storm at Kirta Wulgo and Sabon Tumbun, two settlements on the fringes of the Lake where several key ISWAP leaders and scores of their fighters were killed.
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He said the missions were conducted after credible Human Intelligence reports indicating that some ISWAP leaders and fighters had relocated to Sabon Tumbun due to the impact of the recent air strikes at the nearby Island settlement of Tumbuma Baba.
He said up to 15 high ranking ISWAP Commanders along with scores of their fighters were harboured at Kirta Wulgo which served as administrative headquarters and training camp for ISWAP.
He said: “Prominent terrorists’ leaders, including Abu Imraana, ISWAP Naval Commander, as well as Mallam Ibrahim and Mallam Abba, are believed to be among the many ISWAP casualties”.