Nigerian Air Force Airstrikes Eliminate ISWAP Leaders Amir Abu-Rabi, Mohamer Likita

 The Nigerian Air Force has eliminated top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and scores of their fighters in Borno state.

According to the report, the brutal and precision-guided airstrikes were conducted by the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole.

The report further revealed that the airstrikes targeted three major ISWAP hideouts at Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala, and Arijallamari in Abadam local government areas of Borno state.

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Accordingly, the strikes neutralized the two terrorist leaders Amir Abu-Rabi and Mohamer Likita, and dozens of their bodyguards and fighters.

While Abu-Rabi coordinated tax collection on behalf of the ISWAP in Lake Chad, Likita is among commanders coordinating attacks on military formations.

A military intelligence officer quoted in the report said:

“The attacked locations, especially Kusuma and Sigir were notorious havens used by ISWAP for coordinating and training fighters on preemptive attacks on military positions and civilian areas.

“Some of the recent attacks at Damasak, Malam Fatori, Munguno, Dikwa, and Marte axis were coordinated from the areas.

“The airstrikes and artillery bombardments on the ISWAP camps have pushed the surviving and wounded terrorists to Jibularam and Sabon Tumbu riverbank areas.”

The breakthrough by the Air Force comes almost a week after its aircraft on a routine mission in Borno state was declared missing.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a tweet seen by Legit.ng late Wednesday, March 31 said the Alpha Jet was no lost radar contact.

A day after, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Oladayo Amao arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to coordinate search and rescue efforts.

On arrival, Air Marshal Amao was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts by those on ground.

Meanwhile, after NAF has dismissed claims by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, that its fighters brought down the jet.

The Air Force said the aircraft crashed due to an accident while accusing the insurgents of deliberately doctoring a video to give a false impression that the aircraft was shot down.