“JIHADIST COMMANDERS ELIMINATED – MALLAM FATORI RAID SUCCESSFUL”
By: IDNN Security Desk
MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE — The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of three high-ranking Boko Haram leaders in a pre-dawn raid along the Mallam Fatori–Buratai axis, a known jihadist route near Lake Chad.
The joint task force operation, executed by the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai, also led to the destruction of insurgent weapons caches and the arrest of six foot soldiers, according to a statement released on Friday by Brigadier-General Abdullahi Kazaure, spokesperson for the operation.
“This is a major victory. These men were not foot soldiers — they were key planners and logisticians,” he said.
WHO WERE THE TARGETS?
Though the Army has not released full names pending DNA verification, intelligence sources confirmed the following identities:
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Amadu Baba, alleged logistics chief coordinating arms smuggling from Cameroon
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Abu Kareem, internal commander in charge of movement between Sambisa and Tumbun Gini
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Mallam Ismail, believed to be the chief liaison with ISWAP elements
OPERATIONAL DETAILS:
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Location: Mallam Fatori-Buratai forest corridor
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Assets used: Ground infantry + NAF drone recon and Mi-35 airstrikes
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Duration: 48-hour cordon-and-sweep
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Outcome: 3 commanders neutralised, 6 fighters captured, 2 camps dismantled
Nigerian Army soldiers return from Mallam Fatori after eliminating three Boko Haram commanders in a precision strike under Operation Hadin Kai.
“They were taken out with minimal collateral damage,” said Lt. Col. Musa Tijjani, one of the operational leads.
INSURGENCY RESURGENCE IN THE REGION
The operation follows a spike in jihadist ambushes and attacks on convoys in the past two weeks around Monguno, Damasak, and Kukawa.
Military analysts say the jihadist cells were trying to re-establish command links and mount coordinated offensives along the Lake Chad axis.
“Eliminating these commanders weakens their coordination. It breaks the chain,” said IDNN security analyst Halima Goni.
MOVING FROM TACTICAL WINS TO STRATEGIC SUPPRESSION
The military says it will now:
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Increase cross-border coordination with Niger and Chad
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Expand ISR coverage across the Sambisa–Tumbun–Diffa corridor
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Fast-track deployment of newly trained Long-Range Patrol Units (LRPUs)
Communities in the North-East have been urged to report movements and suspicious shelters to military liaison teams.
