Nigerian soldiers

In an update on the ongoing operations to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Sambisa forests and its environs code named Operation Lafiya Dole, Nigerian Army announced on Saturday that its  troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade on Friday killed 10 members of the insurgent group while two others were captured alive in Borno State.

The troops had acted on information that  insurgents earlier dislodged  at Chukungudu and Hausari villages were migrating towards Muska village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area to carry out fighting patrol operations in the general area.

Colonel Sani Usman, acting director, Army Public Relation who said this in a statement revealed during the patrol, the troops encountered elements of the terrorist group and killed 10 of them while two were captured alive.

He informed that the troops also rescued a woman and her baby that have been held hostages by the terrorists.

In addition, he said the troops also recovered several equipment, arms and ammunition that include 6 AK-47 rifle magazines, 56 rounds of 7.62m (Special) rounds of ammunitions, 1 bundle of detonating cord, a Manual on how to prepare Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)  2 rifle magazine pouches, a Techno IPad, a Nokia mobile telephone handset and 1 Gionee mobile telephone handset.

Others include 1 Digital  Multimetre,  6 SIM cards, 3  Memory cards and   1  Airtel Modem containing memory card also.

The troops also recovered a wristwatch, 2 Islamic books, an empty bag and 2 Motorcycles, Usman added.

Colonel Usman said the captured terrorists are undergoing preliminary interrogation , while rescued woman and her child are receiving necessary attention pending onward movement to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.

Another element of the Battalion, Usman further informed also conducted another fighting patrol to Wumbi village based on received information on the presence of  remnants  of  Boko Haram terrorists in the area.

The patrol team, he said recovered 157 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 37 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

In a related development, the Army public relations chief said troops of 22 Brigade Garrison intercepted 15 IDPs, all male adults,  approaching  Dikwa from Mudu Kasa village.

“They revealed that some Boko Haram terrorists occasionally visit and terrorise their village and forcefully collect food and valuables.

“They further alleged that the terrorists came in numbers with some of them holding AK-47 rifles, while others wield machetes.

“As part of the troops mandate of facilitating humanitarian assistance by both Governmental  and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to the IDPs, troops also provided   security to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) same day.

“The troops provided security to the ICRC’s contractors sinking 5 boreholes around Dikwa IDP camp. They troops would continue to provide the needed security to facilitate humanitarian assistance and activities in the area,” Usman concluded in the statement.