Nigerian Army troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole say they have neutralised some Boko Haram /Islamic State and several other leaders of the West Africa province during their encounter in Borno State.

The operation was carried out at the border town with Cameroon where they neutralised six terrorists attempting to cross from the Cameroon border towards the Sambisa axis.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the co-ordinator of the defence media operations, Major General John Enenche explained that the operation followed credible intelligence targeted against the terrorists on their market activities and undercover movement around Kolofata, a border town with Cameroon.

Amongst the top BHT/ISWAP leaders killed during the encounter at Damasak and buried by the terrorists at Goski village in the early hours of July 3, were Tumbun Dabino – Ba Issoufou, Tumbun Bororo – Amir Batam, Tumbun Jaki – Almustapha, Tumbun Bagaruwa – Modou Kollo, Dogon Tchoukou – Issah, Tumbun Rakke – Mustapha Woulama, Tumbun Dila – Boukar Kowa and Tumbun Mita – Abou Aisha.

According to Enenche, the series of successes so far recorded has led to several of the insurgents surrendering in their numbers.

“They voluntarily admitted that the insurgency is driven more by the need for money, power, greed and criminality and less of any ideology,” the statement read in part.

Weapons and equipment recovered from the terrorists include three AK 47 rifles, a Magazine with 48 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Honda salon car, one motorcycle, eight bicycles, three phones with multiple sims and memory cards and five copies of the Holy Qur’an, among others things. (Channels TV)