Military kills seven terrorists, apprehends eleven others

Troops of 22, 28 and 114 Task Forces Brigade and Battalion of Nigerian Army on Sunday killed seven Boko Haram terrorists and arrested of 11 others during clearance operations in the Bitta-Damboa and Dikwa-Marte axis of Borno state.

The troops also along the Bitta-Damboa road safely detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Madube village.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman disclosed this Monday in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri. Usman in the statement said: “During the operations, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Bulajani village and successfully cleared and pursued the fleeing terrorists in the area.

“Unfortunately, the troops run into an ambush which was eventually cleared, while returning from the patrol fight. Unfortunately, five
soldiers were wounded in the process and their Buffalo vehicle was badly damaged.

“The troops killed four Boko Haram terrorists, while an unconfirmed number of escaped with gunshot wounds.”

He said the soldiers also recovered six bicycles and identified food storage facility stocked with food items. On apprehend of 11 terrorists, Usman said: “The troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Sinabaya village which is left of Marte-Kaje the road in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno state. During the encounter, they killed three and apprehended 11 suspects,” adding that the arrested suspects have been moved to the Brigade Headquarters for preliminary investigation and subsequent handing over to the Joint Interrogation Committee.

He further disclosed that arms and ammunition were also recovered in the clearance operations along the Marte-Kaje road. The recovered ammunition, according to him, includes an AK-47 rifle with registration number N37113 and five AK-47 rifle magazines. Others include a 36 hand grenade, three rounds of 7,62mm (Special)ammunition, four motorcycles, three bicycles, a magazine pouch and a mobile telephone handset.

On safety of liberated communities, Usman said: “Another patrol team from the same unit in conjunction with some elements of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps picketed Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road in order to keep it open and safe against Boko Haram terrorists’ activities.

“The same team also escorted International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) humanitarian materials from Maiduguri to Dikwa and Gambouru/Ngala Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in collaboration with troops of 7 Division Garrison. “At this point, it is important to state that as at today, there are 68, 653 IDPs at Dikwa camp, comprising 31, 296 males and 37, 356 females.”