• Soldier killed, five others, officer wounded in battle
Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
Nigerian troops have killed a top Boko Haram commander known as Ameer Abubakar Gana and several others in various battles in Borno State; in an ongoing operation to clear remnants of the terrorists in parts of the North-east region.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman in a statement yesterday, said the troops acted following credible information on the presence of Boko Haram terrorists, their camp and other facilities at Chukungudu.
Usman noted that a planned attack comprising troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, and 153 Task Force Battalion of 7 Division and 8 Task Force Division as well as Nigeria Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) and some Civilian JTF, was carried out on the Boko Haram terrorists’ stronghold at Chukungudu.
While advancing to the location, he said the troops encountered terrorists’ ambush positions at Muskari, Gilam and Hausasi before descending on their main objective at Chukungudu.
He said during the encounter at the camp, the troops killed 19 Boko Haram Terrorists including their notorious leader in the area called Ameer Abubakar Gana.
“They also discovered and destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)-making factory, discovered and successfully detonated four primed IEDs. The troops also recovered two Anti-Aircraft Guns, an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) bomb, AK-47 Magazine, 267 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) metal links ammunition and 23 rounds of 12.7mm belt ammunition,” he stated.
He listed other recovered items to include a Canter truck, a Gun truck, Land Rover vehicle and a Toyota Hilux vehicle.
Usman said two soldiers unfortunately suffered gun-shot wounds as a result of enemy action. He however, stated that both of them are stable and responding to treatment at the Field Ambulance.
He also said troops of 202 Battalion of 21 Brigade in Operation Lafiya Dole have ambushed Boko Haram elements in which they killed three and arrested one of the terrorists at Sabsawa-Boarding road and BOCOBS-Ngurusoye road between June 1 and 2.
He said the captured Boko Haram terrorist, Umar Mustapha, who claimed to have come from Sabsawa, has been handed over to the Brigade Headquarters for further interrogation and processing.
The Army Spokesman said the troops have continued their clearance operations of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists within the Sambisa forest. He also said earlier on Friday, the troops of 112 Battalion on patrol from Mafa to Dikwa were ambushed at Ajiri village by the terrorists.
Although they successfully cleared the ambush, Usman disclosed that one soldier died in the process, while an officer and three soldiers sustained various degrees of injury. He also said one of the civilian JTF accompanying the patrol team was also injured.
He said: “The team killed eight Boko Haram terrorists and recovered arms and ammunitions at the ambush site. The recovered items include Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), AK-47 rifles, two Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb, three AK-47 Rifle Magazine and 120 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
“The troops also discovered three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed by the edge of the road which were safely detonated by the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) team.”
The DAPR said the body of the late soldier, and the injured personnel have since been evacuated to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Maiduguri.
