- Safiu Kehinde
Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed three major detention facilities belonging to the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ group with over 70 captives freed.
The troops attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, stormed the detention facilities located deep inside the Timbuktu Triangle forest in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, to record the feat.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Media and Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
According to Uba, the armed combat conducted under the Operation DESERT SANITY-V, followed sustained intelligence-led offensives that forced terrorists to abandon key facilities previously considered beyond the reach of security forces.
Preliminary findings indicate the facilities could hold up to 300 detainees.
Uba maintained that sustained military pressure led to the escape of the over 70 captives, many of whom later resurfaced in communities including Goniri, Buratai and Mandaragirau.
One of the escapees, Malam Jidda Ba Jidda, said he escaped during a gun battle between ISWAP fighters and advancing troops.
During the encounters, no fewer than 32 ISWAP fighters were neutralised, including two Qaids and three Munzirs, while several others sustained injuries.
After clearing the area, troops deliberately destroyed the facilities to prevent reuse, underscoring the professionalism and combat effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI forces.
The successful operation, according to the statement, has now degraded ISWAP’s ability to detain civilians, collect ransom and maintain control over local communities, while further shrinking the group’s operational space.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and restoring lasting peace in the North East.