Sustained aerial bombardments have hit the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) hard, eliminating no fewer than 77 of its fighters in Marte axis of Borno State, PRNigeria can authoritatively report.

The terrorists were eliminated in coordinated air strikes by the Nigerian military on three camps of ISWAP in the fringes of Lake Chad.

PRNigeria gathered that over a dozen guntrucks and several motorbikes were destroyed during the offensive.

According to a top military intelligence source, who was involved in the operation, Super Tucano aircraft and other platforms were deployed for the sustained attacks on the ISWAP fighters, affiliated to ISIS.

“The successful Nigerian Air Force aerial strikes, under Operation Hadin Kai, with support from troops of the Multi-National Joint Fast Force (MNJTF), was launched on December 19, 2021, at three locations harbouring hundreds of ISWAP terrorists at Arinna Sorro and Arinna Ciki and Arinna Maimasalaci in Marte Local Government Area in Borno.

“The operation which was conducted after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, targeted hundreds of surviving adversaries who escaped from a previous attack on Kusuma and Sigir, by the Nigerian Military.

“There was already a credible intelligence that a large number of the terrorists have moved to those camps where they are treating their wounded fighters. It was also revealed that the areas were also used by ISWAP to concealed vehicles, MRAPs and motorcycles under thick trees,” an intelligence source said.

Meanwhile, another intelligence source confirmed to PRNigeria that at least 77 corpses of the terrorists were buried by surviving ISWAP members.

The source said: “Most of the terrorists met their waterloo, while few of them who survived after fleeing the area of the airstrikes, returned to pick the corpses of some of their commanders and members.

“The surviving terrorists buried at least 77 corpses of their members on Monday at Tudun Giginya, located between Arena Chiki and Kwallaram, in the same Marte LGA.

“The few surviving ISWAP fighters have moved to Bukar Mairam and Yarwa Kura.” (PRNigeria)