A hundred jihadist fighters drowned in a river in northeastern Nigeria as they tried to flee a military offensive, security sources and residents told AFP on September 5, 2022. According to these sources, the Nigerian military launched a ground and air offensive last week to dislodge the jihadists from several villages located along the Yezaram River. Overwhelmed, the fighters then threw themselves into the river in the hope of fleeing, but many drowned.
The Yezaram River is located in Borno State, near the Sambisa Forest, the main hideout of Boko Haram and the Islamic State group in West Africa (Iswap). Thursday 1 and Friday 2 September, “more than 100 terrorists died, most of them by drowning while trying to cross the turbulent river”said a high-ranking military officer. “Our soldiers pulverized the terrorists with air and ground attacks, forcing them to abandon their positions,” added the officer, on condition of anonymity, who specifies that 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 a militia “anti-jihadist”.
“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 militiaat AFP
Two 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 5th) that there had been massive ground and air operations against jihadists in the past week, but did not give a precise toll. He did not mention these drownings during his press conference (link in English)held with the Minister of the Interior.
“The objective (…) of the total defeat of the terrorists in the North East is already being achieved. The synchronized ground and air operations have continued to inflict huge losses on the terrorists and have forced many of them, including commanders and infantry, to surrender en masse, along with members of their families”
Bashir Salihi Magashi, Nigerian Minister of Defenseat Vanguard
According to the Defense Minister, 3,407 Boko Haram terrorists, including their family members, surrendered in a month. The conflict that started 13 years ago in northeast Nigeria between the authorities and jihadists has claimed the lives of 40,000 people and forced two million others to flee their homes, according to the UN.