A hundred jihadist fighters drowned in a river in northeastern Nigeria as they tried to flee a military offensive, security sources and residents said on Monday.
According to these sources, the Nigerian army launched a ground and air offensive last week to dislodge the jihadists from several villages located along the Yezaram River.
Overwhelmed, the combatants jumped into the river hoping to escape, but many drowned.
“cleanup operations”
The Yezaram River is located in Borno state, near the Sambisa forest, the main hideout for Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap) group. On Thursday and Friday, “more than 100 terrorists were killed, most drowned trying to cross the turbulent river,” a senior military official said.
“Our soldiers pulverized the terrorists with air and ground attacks, forcing them to abandon their positions,” the official added on condition of anonymity.
Four Nigerian soldiers were killed during the offensive, he said. The soldiers, supported by Super Tucano planes and Alpha jets, carried out “clean-up operations in the villages of Busuwwa, Malum Fatari, Dagangari, Galtawa and Baram Kamaa”, said Bukar Grema, a member of an “anti-jihadist” group.
drowned in the river
“Most of the Boko Haram fighters drowned in the river and their bloated bodies were found floating on the surface on Saturday,” Bukar Grema added. “Over 100 of them were recovered and buried by our men.”
Two neighbors confirmed his statements. Most of the bodies were found in Busuwwa, 15 kilometers from Sambisa forest, resident Bunu Ibrahim said.
Nigerian Defense Minister Bashir Salihi Magashi told reporters on Monday that there had been massive ground and air operations against jihadists in the past week, but did not give a specific number of casualties.
The conflict that began 13 years ago in northeast Nigeria between authorities and jihadists has claimed the lives of 40,000 people and forced another two million to flee their homes, according to the UN.
Source: BFM TV
