Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft dispatched to the location of the terrorists' meeting at Belowa and shelled the place.
Two kingpins of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP have been eliminated by the Nigerian military.
Identified as Mallam Ali Kwaya and Mallam Bukar Mainoka, the duo were killed during a raid by Nigerian military fighter jets at Lake Chad on Saturday, PRNigeria reports.
Kwaya and Mainoka, who were also key members of the ISWAP Shura (Consultation) Council were killed when the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction missions at Belowa, one of the very few remaining ISWAP/Boko Haram enclaves in the Tumbuns, Lake Chad Region in Abadam Local Government Area.
According to the report, a military intelligence operative disclosed that their airstrikes at Belowa were necessary after intelligence revealed the convergence of some ISWAP leaders and fighters from surrounding areas for a meeting with the motive of planning attacks on friendly forces.
According to the operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft dispatched to the location of the terrorists' meeting at Belowa and shelled the place.
"An hour after the strikes, 2 vehicles conveying about 13 injured surviving terrorists to another hideout were struck through precision strikes by NAF aircraft.
"Feedback after the strikes revealed that ISWAP kingpin, Mallam Ali Kwaya who is a key member of the ISWAP Shura Council and Mallam Bukar Mainoka were among those neutralized in the strikes," the military source told PRNigeria.
According to the source, similar airstrikes were conducted on Friday at Ngwuri Gana in the Bama local government area, a location east of Maiduguri.
The source said, "The strikes became an expedient sequel to intelligence that a group of ISWAP insurgents in 15 trucks were spotted converging at the location.
"Feedback revealed the strike was on point as several terrorists were neutralised and all their structures and vehicles engulfed in fire."
When contacted, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesperson, confirmed the strikes but refused to mention the names of those killed.
"Our path to victory in the Northeast and northwest remains on course and we won't relent until all locations are free of terrorists and insurgents.
"Let's also not forget that the resilience of our pilots and technicians is in line with the directive of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Amao that terrorists and insurgents must be denied their hiding places," he said.