The Nigerian military on Monday said it has cleared and
taken over Balmo forest in a military operation that lasted throughout the
weekend. The military also said 44 terrorists were killed in a separate
operation.
The Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, in a
statement said the forest, which stretches from Bauchi through Jigawa States,
with links to the fringes of Sambisa forest, was used by terrorists as bases
and hideouts for launching attacks.
Mr. Olukolade said the terrorists and armed gangs operating
in the forests were completely rooted out while some were captured during the
operation.
Those captured, he said, were two foreigners suspected to be
mercenaries.
He said six soldiers were killed in various encounters with
terrorists during the weekend while those injured are receiving treatment.
He also said several weapons and equipment including power
generating sets, communication equipment, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuff and
kitchen utensils were recovered during the operation.
Also, Mr. Olukolade said that over 44 terrorists have died
in Kerenoa and adjoining communities, following an encounter with troops who
repelled their attack on the communities.
He said the terrorists who were armed with IEDs and other
high calibre weapons, carried out a pre-dawn attack on the communities but met
with stiff resistance of the troops.
He said that during the operation, several of them were
captured as well as weapons and ammunitions of various calibres.
The spokesperson also said troops on routine patrol around
Banki and Miyanti in Borno State during the weekend fought through an ambush
laid by terrorists resulting in casualties on both sides. The military casualty
was among the soldiers that died over the weekend.
Nigerian troops are battling to defeat the Boko Haram
insurgents who have killed thousands of people in Northern Nigeria since 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment