The Nigerian Air Force revealed on Saturday that it had neutralized over 70 terrorists in the northern part of the country, at the border with Niger Republic. The Joint effort by the Air Components of Operation Hadin Kai and Nigerien Air Force under the Multinational Joint Task Force, also led to the killing of several key leaders of ISWAP in the Tunbuns including notorious Amir, Ibn Usman. A statement by NAF said that aircraft from both Nigeria and Niger had taken part in the operation. The aerial assault was led by the Nigerien Air Task Force at the Tumbun Rego axis in Borno State.
“Missions over the suspected locations conducted on April 13, 2022, specifically sighted large number of terrorists, a likely logistics camp,” Nigerian Air Force Spokesman, Edward Gabkwet said.
As a result, they carried out airstrikes on April 14 at Tumbun Rego and a nearby training camp, using aircraft from both Nigeria and Niger, he added in a statement.
“Over 70 ISWAP terrorists were either eliminated or severely injured,” he said.
"In the same air strike, several key leaders of ISWAP in the Tunbuns including notorious Amir, Ibn Usman have been neutralized."
"Competent intelligence recently received has revealed that the joint air strikes undertaken on Friday 14 April 2022 at Tumbun Rego and a training Camp about 2 Km Northwest of Tumbun Rego led to the elimination of 5 Key ISWAP leaders namely Ibn Usman, Hani Abdullahi, Abakar Shuwa, Abu Jibrillah and Abu Ali."
The Lake Chad area where Nigeria said it launched the airstrikes had been known for hosting fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, a jihadist group active since 2016.
With older rivals Boko Haram, the two factions had killed more than 40,000 people in the past decade and over two million people are still displaced from their homes due to ongoing violence.