Overview
- The army reported that Abu Khalid and 10 militants were killed in a Saturday night operation in the Kodunga area of Borno state.
- Troops recovered weapons, food items and medical supplies during the raid, according to spokesman Sani Uba.
- Uba described Abu Khalid as a key figure in the Sambisa Forest who coordinated operations and logistics for the group.
- Researcher Taiwo Adebayo said the military shifted last month to proactive raids on insurgent hideouts, with U.S. intelligence flights over Borno reported since November and U.S. airstrikes noted in December.
- The announcement followed reports of deadly militant attacks earlier in the week, with the long-running insurgency estimated by the United Nations to have killed about 35,000 civilians and displaced more than 2 million people.