Top terror kingpins of the Islamic State of West African Province,(ISWAP) Ali Kwaya and Bukar Mainoka, have been neutralized in a raid by Nigerian military fighter, Operation Hadin Kai jets at Lake Chad on Saturday 5 November 2022.
Messrs Kwaya and Mainoka, who were also key members of the ISWAP Shura (Consultation) Council met their drubbing when the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction missions at Belowa, one of the very few remaining ISWAP/Boko Haram enclaves in the Tumbuns, Lake Chad Region in Abadam Local Government.
The strikes became necessary after intelligence revealed convergence of some ISWAP leaders and fighters from surrounding areas for a meeting with motive of planning attacks on friendly forces. Accordingly, a mix of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft was dispatched to the location of the meeting at Belowa which was confirmed to be active.
The location was subsequently engaged with rockets and bombs in multiple passes. An hour after the strikes, 2 vehicles conveying about 13 injured surviving terrorists to another hideout were struck through precision strikes by NAF aircraft.
The Nigerian Military has launched a renewed onslaught against the activities of Terrorists represented by groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, Ansarul and Others and also Bandits and their collaborators in Other parts of the Country.
The renewed onslaught has come following repeated attacks on soft targets and inmates custodial centres across the Country including the Kuje Custodial Centre attack which followed similar attacks on Owerri, Okenne and the Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo town.
The attacks had led an exasperated President Muhammadu Buhari to lament Intelligence and Security failures that has ensured that the attacks were successful.
The Military had in the days after the attack vowed to ensure that it does not happen again promising a renewed raid on all identified hotspots across the Country.
