During a significant attack in the Sambisa Forest, the Nigerian Army’s Theatre Command North East, known as “Operation Hadin Kai,” effectively executed Tahir Baga, a well-known terrorist group commander.
Code-named “Operation Desert Sanity III”, it was carried out on May 13, 2024, and it targeted many terrorist sanctuaries deep within the forest, including Shababul Umma, Garin Panel Beater, and Lagara Anguwan Gwaigwai.
Allnews.ng gathered that the ongoing attempts to destroy terrorist strongholds in the area include this operation.
The operation was effective, according to Zagazola Makama, a well-known security analyst and counterinsurgency expert in the Lake Chad region.
Intelligence sources state that Tahir Baga and several of his colleagues were killed in the fight with the terrorists while others fled with different degrees of injuries.
“Tahir Baga was a close ally of the notorious Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, and played a critical role in the group’s operations from their stronghold in Maiduguri to the Sambisa Forest,” an intelligence source disclosed.
The source further detailed Baga’s influential role within the group stating that as a revered Imam among the sect, Baga was instrumental in preventing fighters and their families from surrendering to Nigerian forces.
He was notorious for indoctrinating underage girls into carrying out suicide bombings, promising them paradise as a reward.
Four women and 10 children were among the fourteen hostages freed from the terrorists’ grasp as a result of the operation.
A sizable cache of weapons and supplies was also taken by the troops from the terrorist strongholds.
Bomb-making supplies, different kinds of ammo, RPGs, AK-47 rifles, cell phones, bicycles, and even cutting-edge communication equipment like a Starlink WiFi system and solar inverter batteries were among the things found.
Tahir Baga’s passing is a significant setback for Boko Haram, one that may likely disrupt their activities and reduce their ability to launch other assaults in the area.
To maintain security and tranquillity in the region, the Nigerian military has reiterated its commitment to carrying out its operation against terrorist organisations in the northeast.
