Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised 1,106 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in Borno State, while arresting 758 suspected logistics collaborators, the outgoing Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has said.
Abubakar disclosed this during his farewell address at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, where he reviewed the formation’s operations under his command.
He said the military also intercepted more than N300m in illicit funds allegedly linked to financiers of the insurgent groups.
According to him, troops recovered over 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres during the operations.
He added that 295 improvised explosive devices were also discovered and safely detonated by the troops.
The outgoing commander attributed the operational gains to the combination of sustained military pressure and non-kinetic measures aimed at weakening the insurgents and encouraging them to abandon their activities.
He said the approach resulted in the surrender of more than 969 JAS and ISWAP fighters and their family members within the past year.
Abubakar further disclosed that 638 civilians were rescued from terrorist enclaves during the period, while all 46 students abducted during an attempted attack on the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno, were safely rescued.
He listed several insurgent commanders among those neutralised during the operations, including Abu Bilal Al-Muniki, also known as Abu Mainok; Malam Jidda, the Amir of Ngorgore and Malumti villages; Abu Modu; Modu Dogo; Munzir of Dogon Chukun; Abu Aisha, the Qaid of Tumbun Mota; and Abul Kaka.
Abubakar thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Borno State Government for the support and opportunity to serve, as he bowed out as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.