A hundred jihadist fighters drowned in a river in northeastern Nigeria while trying to flee a military offensive, security sources and local residents told AFP on September 5, 2022. According to these sources, the Nigerian military launched a ground and air offensive last week to push the jihadists out of several villages along the Yezaram River. Overwhelmed, the fighters then threw themselves into the river in hopes of escaping, but many drowned.
The Yezaram River is located in the state of Borno, near the Sambisa forest, the main hideout of Boko Haram and the Islamic State group in West Africa (Iswap). On Thursday, September 1, and Friday, September 2, “more than 100 terrorists were killed, most of them by drowning, trying to cross the turbulent river,” a senior military officer said. “Our soldiers pulverized the terrorists with air and ground strikes and forced them to abandon their positions,” added the officer on condition of anonymity, who said four Nigerian soldiers died during the offensive. The soldiers, supported by Super Tucano planes and Alpha jets, conducted “clearance operations in the villages of Busuwwa, Malum Fatari, Dagangari, Galtawa and Baram Kamaa,” said Bukar Grema, a member of an “anti-jihadist” militia.
“The majority of Boko Haram fighters drowned in the river and their bloated bodies were found floating on the surface on Saturday. More than 100 of them were picked up and buried by our men.”
Bukar Grema, member of an anti-jihadist militia
at AFP
Two local residents confirmed the statements of the militiaman. Most of the bodies were found in Busuwwa, 15 km from Sambisa Forest, said Bunu Ibrahim, a resident.
Nigerian Defense Minister Bashir Salihi Magashi told reporters on Monday (September 5) that there had been massive ground and air operations against jihadists over the past week, but did not give an exact number. He did not mention these drownings during his press conference (link in English) with the Home Secretary.
“The goal (…) of total defeat of the terrorists in the Northeast has already been achieved. The synchronized ground and air operations continued to inflict huge casualties on the terrorists, forcing many of them, including commanders and infantry, to surrender en masse, along with their families.”
Bashir Salihi Magashi, Nigerian Defense Minister
at avant-garde
According to the defense minister, 3,407 Boko Haram terrorists, including their family members, surrendered within a month. The conflict, which began 13 years ago in north-eastern Nigeria between the authorities and jihadists, has claimed the lives of 40,000 people and forced two million others to flee, according to the United Nations.