The troop of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have neutralised no fewer than 55 terrorists from the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), including several top commanders, in the Fringes of Arege in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
It was gathered that the Niger Ministry of Defence conducted a 22-day aggressive operation called Operation HARBIN ZUMA, which started on May 6, 2023 and ended on May 28, 2023, targeting ISWAP strongholds, which was coordinated by the troops of Sector 3 and Sector 4 MNJTF.
Some of the top Commanders such as Fiya Abouzeid, Qaïd Abou Oumama and Qaïd Malam Moustapha, as well as several religious leaders whose identities are not yet known, were naturalized, while 13 vehicles, 13 motorcycles, and 5 other Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED), were successfully destroyed by the troops.
However, the Nigérienne Sector 4 MNJTF, lost 2 of its soldiers, 3 slightly wounded, while one phantom Mrap was damaged.
Meanwhile, it did not disclose this casualty recorded on the Nigerian counterpart.
The main objective of the operation was to neutralize the terrorists who were in their bastion in Aregé, Nigeria.
The operation also aimed to maintain pressure on the Islamic State in West Africa (EIAO) and to eliminate any presence of armed terrorist groups in the area bounded by the vices of BOSSO, BAGA, GOUDOUMBALI and GASHIGAR, adding that it was planned to cut off all supply routes for armed terrorist groups and reduce the threat in the region.