Troops of Sector 1 and 402 Special Forces Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole have recaptured Marte from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno. Tuesday’s recaptured followed the Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru’s order to rid four communities of terrorists in 48 hours. The communities include Chukungudu, Marte, Kernoa and Kirta in the Lake Chad Basin of the state. Director, Army Public Relations in a statement Wednesday in Maiduguri, disclosed that the operations to free the town from terrorists were ‘clinical and decisive’ in reclaiming the community for IDP returnees.
He said the troops however met a lot of resistance by planting several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on fringes of the community and along the 24km-Dikwa/New Marte road.
According to him, the troops moved in professionally and safely detonated the IEDs planted by terrorists. On how Marte was recaptured, he said: “At the fringes of New Marte, troops encountered very stiff resistance from the terrorists who took vantage positions including on tree-tops. “With troops’ superior fire power, they acted professionally and decisively to overcome terrorists’ resistance. “We also dealt decisively on their positions and inflicted heavy casualty on the criminals.” Adding that 14 terrorists were neutralized. Other arms and ammunition destroyed included two gun trucks, a Vehicle-Borne IEDs, while several high caliber arms, ammunition and other equipment were also captured. Attahiru therefore commended and congratulated the troops and urged them to keep up the momentum by pursuing the terrorists and smoke them out of their hideouts.
