Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralised 21 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and arrested 11 suspected collaborators in separate operations across Borno State over the past three days.

The military also recorded the surrender of a member of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) as troops intensified counter-terrorism operations in the state.

The Military Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed the developments in separate statements issued at the weekend.

Goni said troops neutralised 15 terrorists in a precision airstrike northwest of Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State at about 11:50 p.m. on October 23.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence and confirmed sightings of terrorist movements in the area.

“The precision strike was subsequently followed by ground operations to exploit the area and consolidate the operational gains,” he said.

In a separate operation on October 25, troops intensified counter-terrorism operations in the state, neutralising six terrorists and arresting 11 suspected collaborators.

Goni said the operations demonstrated the impact of sustained military pressure on terrorist groups and their support networks across the theatre.

He said troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, working with Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed ISWAP/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga Local Government Area at about 12:37 a.m. on October 25.

“The encounter resulted in the neutralisation of six terrorists,” he said.

Items recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two Android phones, three button phones and charms.

In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, at about 6:20 a.m. on October 24.

Goni said the raid followed earlier operations targeting suspected terrorist collaborators, bringing the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the investigation to 11, including five previously apprehended.

Items recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms.

He said the suspects were under investigation to establish the extent of their involvement in terrorist activities and to identify possible links to other members of the network.

Meanwhile, a JAS member surrendered to troops deployed at the Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Gwoza Local Government Area.

Goni said troops of the 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel, received the individual at about 9:20 p.m. on October 24 after he surrendered near Hambagda village along the Gwoza–Limankara road.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Gwoza area of the Mandara Mountains and had decided to abandon terrorism.

He surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, among other items.

Goni said the individual was in custody and undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures. (The Nation)