The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the death of a wanted terrorist leader, Ali Kachala Kawaje, a terrorist bomb expert Machika, Dan Muhammad, and 38 other terrorist commanders in Niger State airstrikes.
This was as the DHQ said it was closing in on other wanted terrorists, according to a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, on Friday.
The statement partly read, “During the week in focus, air assets conducted aggressive air flights on confirmed locations active with the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. Strikes carried out resulted in over 38 terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers, while 159 of them were arrested.
“Recently, the military conducted two major air strikes on terrorists’ enclave. One of the strikes, on December 6, neutralised several top terrorist commanders, namely, one Machika, a top terrorist bomb expert and younger brother of a notorious terrorist (Dogo Gide).
“Other prominent terrorist leaders neutralised include Haro and Dan Muhammadu, both of whom are specialists in kidnapping and assault operations, respectively. A renowned terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje, was neutralised in Munya LGA of Niger State along with many of his foot soldiers.
“The military is fast closing in on others and they will equally suffer the same fate. The armed forces are hunting down prominent terrorist leadership and engaging them wherever they are hiding.”
Buba also said troops arrested a prominent commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network, Uchechukwu Akpa.
He said the commander was arrested together with three other sub-commanders, namely Udoka Anthony Ude, Ikechukwu Ulanta, and Ezennaya Udeigewere.
Buba said, “The trio were arrested after a raid on their hideout at Christ the King Catholic Church Ameta Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. They gathered to plot a takeover of the leadership of IPOB/ESN Auto Pilot Command Enugu State Chapter from the apprehended former commander known as ‘Chocho’. They also planned to attack troop locations.
“During the raid, Mr Uchechukwu Akpa sustained a gunshot wound while trying to escape. It could be recalled that Mr Uchechukwu Akpa was the Second in Command to Chocho, a notorious IPOB/ESN leader currently in custody.”
He further said troops arrested 66 suspected oil thieves and rescued 89 kidnapped hostages.
Troops also recovered 67 assorted weapons, 1,194 assorted ammunition, and confiscated stolen products worth N161,232,500.
In a breakdown, he said troops recovered 20 AK47 rifles, four pump action guns, five locally fabricated rifles, two locally fabricated double barrel guns, one Beretta pistol, four locally made pistols, 13 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1,152 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, one round of 5.56mm ammo, and 15 live cartridges.
Others include one magazine loaded with eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one LMG magazine, one CZ pistol magazine, seven empty magazines, one locally made pistol magazine, one damaged magazine, one Dane gun butt, five vehicles, 14 mobile phones, 32 motorcycles, one laptop and the sum of N1,123,800.00 among other items.
