In a thunderous blow to terrorism in Nigeria’s northeast, elite troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force MNJTF have neutralized Abu Fatima, one of the region’s most wanted terrorist commanders, during a high-stakes operation in Kukawa, Borno State.
Abu Fatima—infamous for masterminding deadly ambushes and IED attacks including a recent assault that killed five soldiers—had a ₦100 million bounty on his head. He was killed alongside his top lieutenants, Abu Maryam and Abu Modu, after sustaining fatal injuries during a fierce gun battle with MNJTF forces.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday by Sector 3 troops from 19 Brigade and the MNJTF Air Component, was hailed as a tactical success and a major milestone in the battle against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents operating around the Lake Chad region.
“This mission sends a clear message—terror has no safe haven,” declared Major General Godwin Mutkut, Force Commander MNJTF, while commending the bravery and precision of the troops involved.
The encounter resulted in significant arms and equipment recovery, including:
- 3 AK-47 rifles, 9 magazines
- 2 primed IEDs, 1 pressure plate, detonation cords
- 2 motorcycles
- PKT ammo belt with 22 rounds
- 48 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
- Hand grenade, push-to-talk radio, mobile phone
- IED fabrication materials, batteries, and 3 bandoliers
The MNJTF revealed that several terrorists fled in disarray, indicating that the camp’s chain of command had been shattered. The fall of Abu Fatima—long regarded as a key operational brain behind many cross-border attacks—is expected to create a leadership vacuum in terrorist ranks.
Military sources described the raid as a surgical strike that marks a turning point in MNJTF’s intensified efforts to secure the Lake Chad Basin, a hotspot of insurgent activity.
“Our mission is clear,” added General Mutkut, “we will pursue and eliminate any threat to peace in the region. This success strengthens our resolve.”
The MNJTF continues its multinational operations across Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon with the support of regional and international partners, determined to restore safety to communities long ravaged by terror.
— Olaniyi Osoba
Lieutenant Colonel
Chief Military Public Information Officer
Multinational Joint Task Force
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