MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Nigerian troops have reportedly killed a Boko Haram commander and three other terrorists during an operation in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State, according to security sources.
The operation, conducted on Saturday by troops from Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Hybrid Force and Civilian Joint Task Force, targeted a terrorist camp in the Bula Daloje area of Bama Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, cited intelligence sources for the information. The sources reported that the military incursion into the terrorist enclave met with resistance, leading to a heavy gunbattle.
Despite an ambush by the insurgents en route, the troops successfully fought back, reportedly killing several terrorists and forcing others to withdraw. Among those reportedly killed was Abu Rajab, described as a notorious Boko Haram commander.
The operation reportedly resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and a mobile phone, which security experts consider a significant achievement in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the Lake Chad region.
However, the operation was not without cost. One member of the Hybrid Force was reportedly struck by gunfire during the operation and later died from injuries.
The Nigerian military has not yet issued an official statement confirming these reports. Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, has not commented on the alleged deaths of its members.
The Sambisa Forest has long been known as a stronghold for Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Nigerian security forces have conducted numerous operations in the area as part of their efforts to combat the insurgency.
This reported operation comes as part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to neutralize terrorist threats in the region. The conflict has displaced millions and resulted in thousands of deaths over the past decade.
As the situation continues to develop, local communities and international observers await further details and potential confirmation from official military sources regarding the outcome of this operation and its impact on the broader counter-insurgency efforts in northeastern Nigeria.
