The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it has arrested about 395 Boko Haram terrorists during various operations in the North-East in the last four weeks.
Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE, said this at a news conference at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
Attahiru said that it has also successfully cleared about 630 settlement of insurgents and rescued about 468 persons held in Boko Haram captivity.
He said that during the period under review, troops had intercepted fleeing suspected Boko Haram terrorists attempting to seek refuge in IDPs’ camps.
“This vigilant posture by troops and Civilian Joint Task Force members as well as some clan heads resulted in the arrest of 313 insurgents who are currently undergoing investigations.’’
Attahiru said also that about 69 Boko Haram suspects have surrendered and renounced their membership adding that they were currently being rehabilitated under the Operation Safe Corridor of the Federal Government.
“In the period under review, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE had series of encounters with the insurgents in the hinterlands and on fringes of the Lake Chad. Some of the major encounters involved troops deployed at Gulumba Gana recording a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack on 3 Jul 17.
” The troops neutralised the attack and killed 3 BHT and recovered one AK 47 with registration number 562703141 and a magazine. Also on Jul 10 and 17, troops encountered Bomo Haram terrorists at Kwatara-Kasa Village along Road Gwoza-Limankara.
” Troops killed four Boko Haram terrorists and recovered one hand grenade, one VHF Motorola, one empty cylinder, one IED primer, two electrical cables and two detonating cords during the encounter.
“Additionally, three IEDs were discovered and detonated by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD). Regrettably, two soldiers fell while five soldiers were wounded in action.
“On the same day, troops encountered BHT at Mayanti in Bama LGA while the terrorists were foraging for logistics and food. The troops’ firepower subdued the terrorists causing them to flee.
“The troops pursued the Boko Haram to Chongolo Village within the same LGA, where scores of them were killed after a sustained fire fight.
” Troops captured two gun trucks mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns, one AK 47 rifle, one locally made gun, 1,211 rounds of Anti-Aircraft gun, one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb, 2 AK 47 magazines, one FN magazine, 3
Hilux tyres, one vulcanizing machine, IED materials, one sleeping kit, 5 bags of beans and a BHT banner. Unfortunately, 2 soldiers lost their lives in the encounter.
Attahiru said the troops deployed at Gulumba Gana in Bama LGA had an encounter with BHTs on July 30 killing one insurgent and recovering a damaged AK 47 and an empty magazine.
He, however, said two soldiers were wounded in the encounter and were receiving medical
attention.
He said troops, on clearance operation to Gashigar and Asaga in Mobbar LGA, engaged fleeing insurgents killing two and capturing another two.
“Troops also captured one AK 47 rifle with registration number 58008971, 4 AK 47 rifle magazines with 89 rounds of 7.62mm (Special), one magazine carrier, one handset, 4 motorcycles and the sum of ₦138,000.
Attahiru recalled an attack on an NNPC oil exploration team entered by some insurgents ambush around Borno Yesu Village in Magumeri, which led to the death of a number of people while some were abducted.
While expressing his sympathy to the families of those caught in the incident the commander said a reinforcement team dispatched to the scene of the incident had an encounter with some of the Boko Haram that carried out the dastardly act.
“Many of them were killed in the process with troops capturing three Toyota Hilux vans, one Buffalo pickup, four rocket propelled bombs, AK 47 rifles, one Anti-Aircraft gun and its spare barrel
“Also, on Aug 5, troops successfully neutralised some insurgents at a known crossing point along Road Mayanti – Banki Junction, killing 12 in the encounter.
“Troops recovered among other things 18 bicycles, 30 bags of flour, one bag of groundnut, 2 bags of salt, 2 baskets of kolanut, one carton of mixed juice, 4 rolls of Shadda material, 2 packets of candles and one carton of detergent.
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