The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno says Nigerian Armed Forces have succeeded in neutralizing the leader of the terrorist group, Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu Mussab Al-Barnawi.
He made the disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of Thursday’s security meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Monguno said the country’s military deserve commendation for doing so well.
He said: “The Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs and the intelligence heads, briefed the meeting and I can tell you that the lands forces have recorded a lot of successes in the last two months.
“We have had a steady increase in the number of returnees; both combatants and non-combatants form the Islamic State West Africa Province and boko haram enclaves. We now have to contend with 15,852 returnees.
“The land forces have done an excellent job within the last one month because with their effort, we have been able to take out the leaders of Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu Mussab Al-Barnawi. Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, one Malam Bako, who is also one of the prominent leaders of Shira Council of ISWAP was also taken out, which means the insurgents are now contending with leadership.”
He said the various operations put in place by the military in some troubled parts of the country are yielding the desired results by putting a lot of pressure on insurgents and bandits.
