KANO, Nigeria

The Nigerian Air Force said Tuesday that airstrikes killed three terror leaders and 30 of their foot soldiers in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria.

Spokesperson Edward Gabkwet said in a statement that Ali Dawud, Mallam Ari and Bakurah Fallujah were killed with their fighters on April 13 in hideouts of the ISWAP in Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad.

He said many of the terrorists’ vehicles, motorcycles and logistical assets were destroyed.

“Intelligence gathered after the air strike further indicated that the aerial bombardment effectively obliterated a key facility within the Kolleram enclave, which served as a hub for the terrorists’ food processing activities, including grinding machines,” it said.

Gabkwet said the strikes severely hampered ISWAP’s operational capabilities.

“These airstrikes complement the ongoing efforts of ground forces in the Lake Chad flank and represent a crucial step forward in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,” he added.