Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Nigerian troops engaged in the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole, have killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists and apprehended two others during recent clearance encounters in parts of Borno State, North-east of the country.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade recorded the success on Friday based on some actionable intelligence and information. Usman said the military were informed that terrorist elements earlier dislodged at Chukungudu and Hausari villages during recent clearance operations were migrating towards Muska village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area (LGA), and conducted fighting patrol operations in the general area.
“During the encounter, the troops killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists, captured two alive and rescued a woman with her baby that were held hostages by the terrorists,” he stated.
He said the troops also recovered several equipment, arms and ammunition that include six AK-47 rifle magazines, 56 rounds of 7.62m (Special) rounds of ammunitions, a bundle of detonating cord, a manual on how to prepare Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two rifle magazine pouches, a Techno IPad, a Nokia mobile telephone handset and Gionee mobile telephone handset.
“Others include a Digital Multimetre, six SIM cards, three Memory cards and Airtel modem containing memory card also. The troops also recovered a wristwatch, two Islamic books, an empty bag and two motorcycles,” he added.
The DAPR disclosed that the captured terrorists are undergoing preliminary interrogation, while the rescued woman and her child are receiving necessary attention pending onward movement to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp.
Similarly, he said, another element of the Battalion also conducted another fighting patrol to Wumbi village based on received information on the presence of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the area.
Usman revealed that the patrol team recovered 157 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 37 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
In a related development, he said the troops of 22 Brigade Garrison intercepted 15 IDPs, all male adults, approaching Dikwa from Mudu Kasa village. The Army spokesman said the IDPs revealed that some Boko Haram terrorists occasionally visit and terrorise their village and forcefully collect food and valuables.
“They further alleged that the terrorists came in numbers with some of them holding AK-47 rifles, while others wielded machetes,” he stated.
Usman said as part of the troops’ mandate of facilitating humanitarian assistance by both Governmental and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) to the IDPs, troops also provided security to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) same day.
According to him, the troops provided security to the ICRC’s contractors sinking five boreholes around Dikwa IDP camp. He assured that the troops would continue to provide the needed security to facilitate humanitarian assistance and activities in the area.
