Military joint taskforce eliminates ISWAP chief judge, Khalifa Umar 

Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), said its troops have killed a top-ranking officer of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Amir Khalifa Umar, in an air raid conducted at Tunbum Sabon.

Umar, said to be the third-ranking commander in ISWAP echelon, is also said to be the chief judge of the terrorist group.

The killing was contained in a statement issued last night by MNJTF Chief of Military Public Information, Colonel Timothy Antigha.

Antigha in the statement said: “In continuation of the ongoing offensive operations against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other purveyors of violence and instability in the Lake Chad Basin, the Air Task Force of the MNJTF  neutralised the third-ranking commander in ISWAP leadership echelon Amir Khalifa Umar in an air interdiction conducted yesterday in Tunbum Sabon. Khalifa Umar was a  High-Value Target considering that he was also the chief judge of ISWAP.

“In a separate air interdiction conducted in Kwalaram, three other senior commanders of ISWAP were also neutralised. More details on the full Battle-Damage Assessment will be conveyed in subsequent press releases.

“Additionally, MNJTF Air Task Force interdiction of ISWAP training camp and mustering area in Tumbun Madayi three days ago also, yielded expected result. Several terrorists and their comanders who gathered for training or an attack were neutralised or maimed. Battle Damage-Assessment indicates that a sizeable ISWAP terror infrastructure  were destroyed.

“The MNJTF is firm in its resolve, in partnership with national forces and operations, to intensify pressure on ISWAP until it capitulates.”