By Ismail Auwal
Nigerian Army Headquarters on Tuesday said that the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango have eliminated two most wanted Boko Haram terrorist leaders, Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib in an encounter at Pulka axis of Borno.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Mr Yerima said the renewed offensive operations by troops under the theatre command, Operation Lafiya Dole, had continued to inflict heavy casualty on the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.
He said the troops of 121 and 151 Battalions, on Tuesday, laid ambush at the terrorists’ crossing point between Vuria and Guja settlements along road Banki Junction – Pulka axis.
He added that three terrorists, including the two wanted commanders, were neutralised during the ambush.
According to him, the troops also recovered three GPMG, seven AK47 rifles, a belt of ammunition containing 446 rounds of 7.62mm, one Boxer motorcycle and one ITEL 2160 mobile phone among others.
“Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib were among the top BHTs commanders of the Shekau faction operating in Sambisa forest and environs.
“The two terrorist commanders have been on the intelligence watch-list for some time.
“Abul-Bas was a top commander second to Abu Fatima, while Ibn Habib was the BHT Commander in charge of Njimia and Parisu camps in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.
