Army: Insurgents attacked Damasak after troops killed 12 ISWAP commanders

The army says its troops have killed Bukar Gana Fitchmeram, a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP).

Fitchmeram, also known as Abu Aisha, was said to have been killed alongside other fighters who were on a “revenge mission” to Damasak in Borno state.

TheCable had reported how the insurgents attacked villages in the area, resulting in the displacement of residents.

Babagana Zulum, governor of the state, who later visited the area, said 18 people were killed in the attack.

Mohammed Yerima, the army’s spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said Fitchmeram and his fighters made two unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate Damasak.

“The terrorist and his fighters met their waterloo as they made a come-back following the neutralisation of 12 high value ISWAP commanders in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State in a week-long air and ground operations by the Nigerian military,” the statement read.

“In a well-coordinated ground bombardments and aerial strikes by the Nigerian military on various locations in the Northeast, the terrorists who were denied any sanctuary or respite desperately conducted two separate failed attacks on Gajiram and Damasak.”

The army spokesman said the 12 ISWAP commanders and other leaders were killed in a series of air strikes.

“The deadly airstrikes conducted on Tudun Wulgo, Zari and Tumbun Alhaji, Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari, in Abadam, Marte and Ngala Local government Areas, led to the killing of top ISWAP Leaders,” the statement read.

“The Commanders that perished in the airstrikes included; Mohammad Fulloja , Ameer Mallam Bello, Ba’a kaka Tunkushe, Abu Muktar Al -Ansari, Ameer Abba Kaka, Abu Huzaifa, Ameer Modu Kwayem, while  Goni Mustapha who was the Chief Imam of the ISWAP escaped with bullet wounds.

“Troops’ artillery bombardment and air strikes on April 6 also resulted to the elimination of two top ISWAP leaders including Abu-Rabi and Muhammed Likita as well as scores of their troops and body guards around the axis of Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari in Abadam Local Government Areas.

“The terrorists’ storage facilities that housed weapons used to conduct several attacks was also targeted and destroyed in the air raid by the Air Component of Operation Lafita Dole.

“On the night of Saturday, April 10, three other terrorist commanders including Ameer Umar, Abu Ubaida and Abu Salim were ambushed and killed by own troops around Wulgo/Logomani axis close to Cameroon borders while attempting to attack locals and rustle their cows. The devastating air strikes and artillery bombardment on the ISWAP camps had pushed the surviving elements to conduct desperate attacks and looting missions for food and drugs for their wounded colleagues.”

Also on April 11, the army said it killed some insurgents while attempting to loot food items in a store belonging to the United Nations as well as drugs and ambulance in Damasak.