TheCable

Three commanders of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been reportedly killed in military airstrikes.

Amir Bashir, known as Iblis (devil), was said to be a snipper and one of the commanders killed in the raid.

According Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Bashir was ISWAP’s marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment.

Muhammed Balge, a chief prosecutor of ISWAP, and Mallam Chiroma, his second in command were the other two commanders said to have been killed in the raid.

The strikes were said to have been coordinated by the air task force (ATF) component of operation Hadin Kai.

The strikes, conducted on Wednesday, were said to have targeted the terrorists hideouts in Rino, Jibularam and Kangarwa in Marte and Kukawa LGA of Borno state.

Sources quoted by Zagazola Makama, said “the first damaging air interdiction targeted a hideout of the terrorists and a training camp in Rinu, killing an unspecified number of the fighters.”

“In another feats, which followed a credible and actionable intelligence obtained by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, the troops neutralized many terrorists moving in two vehicles in the axis of Kangarwa in Kukawa LGA,” one of the sources was quoted.

“On receipt of the distress call, NAF aircraft immediately scrambled to the location where they intercepted and neutralised several terrorists.

“Troops deployment around the area revealed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties from the airstrikes.”

Another military source was quoted to have said the air force, “operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its offensives against the terrorists in the north-east.”

The development comes a day after ISWAP reportedly buried 26 of its members in Ngala LGA of Borno.

The ISWAP members were killed on September 9 by co-ordinated air strikes carried out by the Nigerian military.

The strikes were conducted on two camps of the insurgents in Yarwa Kuwa and Sigir areas in Borno.