By Joy Yesufu
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully neutralized a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP kingpin, Mallam Jidda, during a clearance operation in Ngazalgana, Gujba Local Government Area of Borno State, the Nigerian Army has confirmed.
In a statement released by Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, the Army said the operation also led to the neutralization of several terrorists in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known insurgent enclave.
According to the statement, troops encountered the terrorists during an offensive operation and overwhelmed them with superior firepower, killing Mallam Jidda on the spot. Several other insurgents fled with gunshot wounds.
In a separate ambush operation launched from another axis of the Timbuktu Triangle, the troops again engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the elimination of multiple fighters.
During the operations, troops recovered an arsenal of weapons and equipment, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, hand grenades, handheld radios, motorcycles, and a large cache of ammunition and magazines.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining momentum in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East, noting that the successful clearance of key enemy positions and neutralization of high-value targets such as Mallam Jidda is a significant step toward restoring peace and security in the region.
