Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, an offensive against Boko Haram and its splinter groups in the north-east, are closing in on more terrorist leaders and commanders, a highly placed military source told The Nation.

The military had in recent months killed several terrorist commanders in the North East, including Abu Nazir and Abu Fatima, during operations in Borno and Yobe.

The source said the military’s intelligence deployment is stifling the terrorists, who now know that their hideouts have been exposed. He added that this has forced the terrorists’ leadership to remain in constant movement.

“Nigeria is winning the war against terrorists”, says the source who didn’t want to be named due to the sensitivity of the information. “We know where their leaders are, be it ISWAP, Boko Haram, or JAS. We know where they are and how they move, and they can never escape our fire. Wherever they move to, we know, and we will take them down.”

Meanwhile, troops killed more than 12 terrorists in a surprise night operation at Bula Dalo, forcing the remnants to flee in disarray and abandon four AK-47 rifles, one PKT anti-aircraft gun, one rocket-propelled gun, and one multiple grenade launcher, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of Operation Hadi Kai, said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that six terrorists were also killed in Gamo, where their life-support structures were destroyed, and a large cache of PKT anti-aircraft ammunition was recovered.

Uba said it was regrettable that some courageous troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price during multiple armed drone attacks by ISWAP in Sabon Gari in the early hours of Thursday.

He said, “Although the terrorists briefly breached part of the defensive position, gallant troops swiftly repelled the assault, held their ground, and restored full control with timely reinforcements from nearby locations.”

“Regrettably, some courageous troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price in the course of defending the location, while an excavator and lowbed also got damaged as a result of the armed drone attack.”

Uba said exploitation of the area was ongoing as operations continue to deny terrorists freedom of action. (The Nation)