Nigerian Army Confirms Elimination of Terror Kingpin Abu Fatima in Borno

The Nigerian Army has announced the successful elimination of a notorious terrorist leader, Amir Abu Fatima, in a targeted military operation carried out in the Kukawa area of northern Borno State.

The announcement was shared on Friday through an official statement released via the Nigerian Army’s verified X account.

The operation, which was conducted in the early hours of the day, was executed by Special Forces of 19 Brigade under Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai, targeting insurgents hideouts in Lake Chad region.

A reliable military source also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the operation was a “precision decapitation strike,” aimed at neutralising Abu Fatima, who had been on the most-wanted list of security agencies due to his role in orchestrating multiple high-profile attacks in the Lake Chad Basin.

The military source further said that the elite troops infiltrated the terrorists enclave and engaged the fighters in a fierce firefight.

“Abu Fatima was critically wounded and captured alive but later died from excessive bleeding due to gunshot wounds,” the source added.

The source further disclosed that his second-in-command, as well as several bomb-makers and foot soldiers, were also neutralised during the operation.

Items recovered from the terrorists include several AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, components for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other military-grade weapons.

The sources described the success of the operation as a major tactical and psychological blow to terrorists’ networks operating within the region.

NAN