The Chief Judge of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Khalifa Umar, has been struck dead during a blistering offensive by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Colonel Timothy Antigha, MNJTF Chief of Military Public Information, announced this in a statement issued on Sunday in Ndjamena, Chad.

“In continuation of the ongoing offensive operations against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other purveyors of violence and instability in the Lake Chad Basin, the Air Task Force of the MNJTF neutralised the third ranking commander in ISWAP leadership echelon Amir Khalifa Umar in an air interdiction conducted yesterday in Tunbum Sabon. Khalifa Umar was a High Value Target considering that he was also the Chief Judge of ISWAP,” Antigha said.

He disclosed that “in a separate air interdiction conducted in Kwalaram, three other senior commanders of ISWAP were also neutralized,” adding that “more details on the full Battle Damage Assessment will be conveyed in subsequent press releases.”

Furthermore, “MNJTF Air Task Force interdiction of ISWAP training camp and mustering area in Tumbun Madayi three days ago also yielded expected result. Several terrorists and their commanders who gathered for training or an attack were neutralised or maimed. Battle Damage Assessment indicates that a sizeable ISWAP terror infrastructure were destroyed.

The MNJTF is firm in its resolve, in partnership with national forces and operations, to intensify pressure on ISWAP until it capitulates.”