Troops kill Boko Haram spiritual leader in Borno, recover weapons

The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Desert Sanity have killed several Boko Haram members including their spiritual leader in Borno state. 

The army said the insurgents were killed during a clearance operation in Borno, on Thursday.

“Troops of Operation Desert Sanity neutralized several ISWAP/BokoHaram terrorists including the Amir & spiritual head of Galta during an aggressive clearance operation around Manjo Ali Qere in Borno State on Thur 28 April 2022. Arms & Ammunition were also captured,” the army said.

Giving an update on the army’s operations in three weeks, Bernard Onyeuko, director of defence media operations, said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji also eliminated over 62 insurgents, arrested 79 others and rescued 179 kidnapped victims across the north-west region.

Onyeuko said the troops had on April 10 eliminated scores of insurgents and rescued 50 victims comprising 32 women and 18 children at Wanzamai in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara.

He said the troops continue to record successes across Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states, leading to the recovery of 592 rustled cattle, 45 different weapons, 80 rounds of different caliber ammunition and 50 motorcycles during the period.

“All recovered items, rescued and apprehended insurgents were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he said.

He added that Ibrahim Ali, the commander of Operation Safe Haven, handed over 517 small arms and light weapons recovered from criminals to the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

According to him, the breakdown of the weapons includes 26 AK 47 rifles, one FN, two barreta rifles, three G3 rifles, six barreta pistols, nine harris bing pistols and one SMG.

“Others are 183 locally fabricated rifles, 163 dane guns, 102 locally fabricated pistols, 19 locally fabricated SMGs, six single barrel guns and pump-action gun,” he said.