In a significant blow to the Boko Haram insurgency, members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) have successfully eliminated Ali Gana Alhaji Ali, a notorious Boko Haram commander who held sway over the Sambisa and Gwoza enclaves.
The operation allegedly took place on Gwoza Hill, located in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ali Gana Alhaji Ali, recognized as one of the most lethal terrorist leaders in the Northeastern region, met his demise on a fateful Sunday when ISWAP fighters executed a well-planned ambush.
According to reliable sources within the security apparatus, Ali Gana Alhaji Ali had a long history of violence and had been responsible for numerous atrocities in Sambisa and various parts of Borno State.
“He served as the deputy to the late Ali Ngulde and, besides Abubakar Shekau, he was perhaps the most notorious perpetrator of violence in the Sambisa forest and the Bayan Dutsen Gwoza areas,” revealed a security insider.
“His methods were brutal, and the terrorists under his command in the Gwoza region consistently struck fear into local communities, farmers, and commuters along routes including Pulka, Bankin, Bama, and Gwoza Mubi.
“They showed no mercy, and the people in these areas suffered frequent attacks, with innocent lives lost on a weekly basis. The demise of Ali Gana Alhaji Ali is a moment that the people of Gwoza will undoubtedly celebrate,” the source added.
This development follows the demise of Abubakar Shekau, a feared leader of Boko Haram, during a confrontational clash with ISWAP fighters in May 2021. The elimination of Ali Gana Alhaji Ali marks another significant victory in the ongoing battle against terrorism in Nigeria’s troubled Northeastern region.