The Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF said  two soldiers of its died while six others were injured after stepping on improvised Explosives Devices (IED) during the clearing of Boko Haram camps in Baroua village, Northern Borno during a recent operation.

Brigadier General Mohammed Dole, the Information Officer for the Joint Task Force made up of soldiers from Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon deployed to fight Boko Haram terrorist group said this in an update of the activities of the troops he released in a statement on Saturday.

While describing the incident as  “unfortunate,” Colonel Dole said “troops of Sector 4 while on clearing operation after successful air strikes at Baroua village, encountered Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) explosion.  This incident led to the death of 2 personnel (1 x Officer and a soldier) and Six (6) soldiers were wounded.”

He added that the deceased personnel were given befitting burial in Diffa and while the injured soldiers were evacuated to Niamey, Niger Republic for medical treatment. He however added that the morale and fighting spirit of the troops remain very high though effects of difficult terrains and unpredictable weather conditions continue to pose serious challenges to the conduct of operation against Boko Haram.

But he noted that  despite these limitations for the ground forces, the Air Component of the operation, through successful combined air operations continue to deny the terrorists freedom of action and movement within the battle fields.

“Recent air strikes and simultaneous clearing operations on Twelve (12) identified Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) camps and hideouts have greatly shattered their cohesion.

“Moreover, continuous blockade of the terrorists main supply routes and arrest of their logistics suppliers caused serious economic hardship and led to the surrender of many terrorists in different locations in the Area of Operation (AOO) of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

“Additionally, the troops of Sector 4 in Diffa Niger Republic tracked and neutralized 4 x BHT suspected to have attacked the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and Two (2) others were arrested at Tumoua village,” he said of recent operations involving the troops.