Fighter Jets Destroy Boko Haram Forest Logistics Base, Troops Kill Five Terrorists

Fighter Jets Destroy Boko Haram Forest Logistics Base, Troops Kill Five Terrorists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

In a week of renewed onslaught against terrorists, fighter jets belonging to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) yesterday destroyed logistic equipment belonging to terrorist group, Boko Haram, concealed in forested areas, killed five terrorists while three others surrendered in an operation conducted in the Lake Chad Basin area connecting Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republic.

In a related internal security operation in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta and Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe uncovered a massive illegal bunkering site in Ughelli Area of Delta State.

A statement issued by MNJTF on its operations said the intervention force acting on intercepted Boko Haram communication, conducted airstrikes in Madayi, Meri and Tchoukou-Bol and destroyed Boko Haram logistic equipment concealed in thickly forested areas.

Similarly, troops of the MNJTF and national forces operating in Doro Naira and Ngolom environs made contact with Boko Haram terrorists and at the end of the engagement five terrorists were killed, three captured, while others fled.

It said, “Two out of the three captured terrorists were eventually killed when the vehicle conveying them went over a road side bomb planted by Boko Haram themselves.

“MNJTF troops in conjunction with national forces operating in Mallam Fatori – Bosso axis discovered and neutralised three road side bombs planted by Boko Haram terrorists. Also recovered were a gun-truck and assorted ammunition abandoned by fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

“Tired of waiting for the unrealised Boko Haram Caliphate, three Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of MNJTF Sector 1 in Balgaram, Cameroon.”

In a related development, Defence Headquarters, said troops repelled insurgent advance on Mitchika Town in Adamawa State and forcing them to flee after a fierce combat.

“Some of the successes recorded include, the repel of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack on Michika Town in Michika Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State. The insurgents who were on a looting mission for logistics had attacked a bank and some shops in the area, damaging an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carting away food items.

“However, the insurgents ran out of luck when troops of 143 Battalion and 115 Task Force Brigade at neighbouring Lassa in Borno State mobilised to the area and engaged the insurgents in a fierce combat forcing the insurgents to flee.

“The fleeing insurgents were again ambushed and neutralised by Special Forces troops at Maikadiri Village in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State. The gallant troops recovered one Hilux van, two Toyota Starlet cars loaded with looted food stuff and motorcycles from the fleeing insurgents, a statement signed by Defence Spokesman, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, said.

In the Niger Delta, troops of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA and Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe, while on patrol at Iwhrekreka community in Ugheli LGA of Delta State uncovered and destroyed an illegal refining camp with 18 ovens, 18 coolers and 39 waste pits.

Other items recovered include, 26 surface tanks and five pits cumulatively filled with about 750,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil.

“In a similar operation, troops of NNS PATHFINDER uncovered an illegal refining site at Alakiri general area in Bonny LGA, Rivers State. The vigilant troops recovered several tanks and pits filled with about 500,000 liters of stolen crude oil. Additionally, 600,000 liters of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and two pumping machines were also recovered from the suspects.

“Some of the suspects arrested during the coordinated operations have been handed over to relevant prosecuting security agencies, while others are still undergoing preliminary investigation”, a statement from Defence Headquarters said.

In Zamfara, it said troops destroyed camps belonging to armed bandits in the state.

“In order to stem the menace of armed banditry in the North Central part of the country, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted a raid operation on a suspected armed bandits camp at Dogo Gawa, a border community between Takum in Taraba State and Katsina-Ala in Benue State. In a shootout that ensued, the bandits who were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops  fled, abandoning their camp.

 “The gallant troops recovered one locally made riffle, one laptop, two cellphones, SIM cards, ATM cards and a sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (400,000). The camp was subsequently destroyed by troops who are currently on the trail of the fleeing bandits”.

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