Maj. General Lucky Irabor: Naval men to fight Boko Haram around Lake Chad basin

The Nigerian Military said on Wednesday that it deployed Naval troops to Borno as part of its renewed efforts to end the Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East.

The Theater Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the troop were inducted into the theater as the Maritime Component to strengthen its operation.

“The advance party for the Maritime Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has been inducted into the theater on Sept. 8.

“They will be deployed at Naval Outpost in Baga and will later operate around the fringes of Nigerian side of the Lake Chad.

“However, they are now temporarily accommodated at the Federal College of Fresh Water and Fishery Technology in Baga, awaiting arrival of the main body and other logistics.

“Currently, they are conducting patrols in conjunction with troops of Multi National Joint Task Force in Baga,” he said.

The commander said that the troops of the theater recorded tremendous successes in the clearance of Boko Haram remnants under its “Operation KARYA GWIWA’’.

“On Oct. 28, our troops commenced clearing operations on two axis to clear and destroy insurgents along Golgore, Doksa, Ajigin and environs.

“The troops located a terrorist’s camp and on sighting the team, they fled the camp abandoning seven motorcycles, five bicycles, a desert camouflage and a large quantity of drugs.

“All the recovered items were destroyed and during the operations, 37 terrorists were killed while two officers and five soldiers were wounded and a member of the vigilante died, during the offensive operation.

“On Oct. 29, our troops continued their advance and later came under Boko Haram ambush at Ugundiri, where five soldiers sustained gunshot wounds.

“Two anti-aircraft guns were recovered from the terrorists and a gun truck was destroyed,” he said. (NAN)