Special forces eliminate Boko Haram commander with N100m bounty

Special Forces troops under Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated a high-ranking Boko Haram commander, Amir Abu Fatima, who had a N100 million bounty on his head.

According to a terse statement issued by the Nigerian Army on Friday, Fatima was killed along with other terrorists during a military offensive in the Kukawa axis of Borno State.

“Special forces under the command of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized key BH/ISWAP Leader Amir, Abu Fatima and other terrorists along Kukawa axis of Borno State,” the army said.

Further details emerged from counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who reported that the operation took place in northern Borno and was executed by Special Forces troops of 19 Brigade under Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai.

“Zagazola Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the operation, which was conducted in the early hours of Friday, was carried out by Special Forces troops of 19 Brigade of Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai, targeting the Kukawa axis of the Lake Chad region.

“Military sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the mission was a carefully planned terrorist leader decapitation operation aimed specifically at taking out Abu Fatima, a high-profile insurgent leader.

“The elite Special Forces penetrated the terrorist enclave and engaged the militants in a fierce firefight. Abu Fatima was critically injured during the clash and was captured alive. However, he later succumbed to excessive bleeding from gunshot wounds sustained in battle,” Makama said.

Fatima’s deputy, along with bomb-making specialists and several other insurgents, were also killed in the raid, according to military sources.

Weapons and materials recovered from the scene included multiple AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other military-grade equipment.

Abu Fatima had long been on the most-wanted list of Nigerian security agencies for his role in numerous high-profile terrorist attacks across the Lake Chad region. His death is seen as a significant operational and psychological blow to Boko Haram and affiliated terrorist factions in the area.