The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the death of the wanted terrorist leader Ali Kachala Kawaje, a terrorist bomb expert Machika, Dan Muhammad and 38 other terrorist commanders in Niger State airstrikes.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
This is as the DHQ said it was closing in on other wanted terrorists.
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 the terrorist enclave. One of the strikes, on Dec 6, neutralized 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 is 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 take over 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.”
