Nigerian forces kill 3 top ISWAP ringleaders

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerian military forces killed three senior figures of the 'Islamic State' in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group, in the country's volatile northeast region.

The ringleaders were killed on Wednesday during a joint air and land offensive on the terrorists' camps in Kirta and Wulga in the northeast Borno State, according to the Abuja-based PR News website.

Two senior military officers confirmed the killing to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The three figures were Abubakar Dangumal -- suspected to be in charge of the group's waterborne unit -- as well as Amir Malik and Malam Mohammad.

Neither the military nor ISWAP has reacted to the incident.

Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for most of the terror attacks in the area for more than a decade, seeks to establish a caliphate in the country's northeast region.