In its campaign to oust the terrorist group, Boko Haram, Nigerian military gunned down one of its top Commanders during an exchange of fire at Alagarno, the closest major town to the infamous Sambisa forest.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade confirmed this in a statement last month, saying that the terrorist kingpin died while leading a comeback attack on the troops.
According to Olukolade, Abu Mojahid, was among the terrorists that died in their encounter with troops in the outskirt of Alagarno when the group had staged a daring attack on troops who were on patrol of the area.
Olukolade said not only Mojahid but that a number of other terrorists died as the troops repelled the attack. He also stated that aggressive patrols, mopping up as well as cordon and search were also continuing in the other locations in search for weapons and terrorists.
He also noted that improvised explosive devices planted by the terrorists to deter the comprehensive offensive by the advancing troops are also being carefully cleared as troops continue to pursue fleeing ones.
Boko Haram FACTSFILE:
- Boko Haram is originally known as Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad
- The group started in and around Maiduguri as a peaceful movement, but became a radical group at the Ndimi Mosque in Maiduguri in about 2002 3. The founder of the group was one Mohammed Ali, who when he was murdered by the Nigerian army following a clash, was succeeded by Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf too was killed by the Nigerian police and Abubakar Shekau took over the group, and leads it till today
- Estimates of the group’s membership varies between 7,000 and 10,000
- Boko Haram killed more than 5,000 civilians between July 2009 and June 2014, including at least 2,000 in the first half of 2014
- Since 2009 Boko Haram have abducted more than 500 men, women and children, including the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014
- Some of the group’s daring attacks a mass prison break in September 2010, suicide bombings of police buildings and the United Nations office in Abuja 8. By the end of August 2014, over 1.5 million people had fled the conflict zone’s in the North-east, and North-central Nigeria where Boko Haram largely operates
- In the early part of March 2015, Boko Haram pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State via a video posted to the groups’ twitter handle
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