ISWAP commander, other fighters killed in coordinated airstrikes

Abiodun OBA

The Islamic State of West Africa, ISWAP, commander, Abou Maryam, also known as Modu Kime, has been killed in coordinated airstrikes by the Nigerian military along the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

The ISWAP commander was killed alongside some fighters of the terrorist group in a bombing at the river banks of Bisko and Tumbum Tawaye in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno, according to PR Nigeria.

According to the report, the operation was conducted after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, revealing the location of Abou Maryam who has been under the searchlight of the military.

The ground assessment from the spots of the air interdiction indicated that scores of the terrorists and the commander were killed in the process.

PRNigeria quoted an intelligence source as confirming Abou Maryam had been on the radar of security operatives for some time now.

“For some times we had been intercepting his communication and his coordination of attacks by his terror group, mostly in Borno State.

“He had operated around the axis of Tumbum Tawaye, Bisko, Garere, Arkumma and Dumbawa, Zari and Gundumbali LGA.

“Abou Maryam coordinated attacks on military troops and soft targets mostly around Damasak, Nganzai and Gajiram and sometimes on the outskirts of Maiduguri.”