Troops of 21 and 26 Brigades of Nigerian Army supported by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have neutralized 81 terrorists in five villages of Sambisa Forest. The Garin Bello, Kwoche, Lawanti, Alfa Bula Hassan and Alfa Cross Boko Haram hibernating villages are in Borno and Yobe states.
Confirming the military operations on Monday in Maiduguri, Madu Bukar, a Civilian JTF leader assisting the Army fight insurgents disclosed: “Our troops inside the forest this month encountered stiff resistance from the terrorists, by planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along troops’ advance routes.”
“We destroyed terrorists’ camps and recovered their gun trucks and weapons, while fleeing the cleared villages.” He however noted that one of the soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice, while clearing Sambisa Forest of terrorists that had been hibernating in the villages. He said four soldiers were also wounded by explosives and have been evacuated to a military hospital for treatment in Maiduguri. Meanwhile, a large number of fleeing terrorists however invaded Zira and Gur villages in the south part of Biu Local Government Area.
According to him, the terrorists stormed the council area in gun trucks and motorcycles on Sunday by 4.30pm. He said that the terrorists torched many houses, while the residents scamper for safety into nearby bushes and farmlands. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet later engaged the fleeing terrorists with superior aerial fire power,” he said. The Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru applauded the troops and urged them to sustain the forest military operations.
While paying tributes to fallen heroes, he said: “You’re to honour the memory by dealing with the terrorists ruthlessly without mercy.”
