Troops wipe out 11 terrorists, recover weapons in Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force in the North-East have wiped out 11 terrorists and recovered weapons, ammunition and a truck loaded with petroleum products during violent fights in Borno State.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja that the troops belonged to “Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK)”.

Nwachukwu declared that the troops of 82 Task Force Battalion, who were on patrol along Ngoshe-Ashigashiya Road, about 12 km from the unit’s location, had a fight with Boko Haram terrorists at Daushe.

He disclosed that the brutal battle led to the killing of five terrorists, convincing the remaining terrorists to retreat in confusion into Mandara Mountains with several gunshot injuries.

As indicated by him, during further operation after the gun fight, the brave soldiers recovered one AK 47 Rifle, one Magazine containing 13 rounds of fabricated 7.62mm (Special), a bandolier of 44 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) and a bag containing 52 rounds of 7.62mm (Special).

The army representative also said that troops of 212 Battalion had on July 1 launched an offensive against some terrorists along Gadayi-Kareto-Gubio axis, Magumeri, Tungushe villages and areas around Kerenoa.

Nwachukwu said that the soldiers recovered one AK 47 Rifle and one Baufeng communication radio set abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

He added that troops had on July 2 intercepted terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province while they (terrorists) were crossing through an identified supply route along Auno – Jakana axis with a truck loaded with petroleum products.

In accordance with him, vigilant troops deployed at Garin Kuturu checkpoint quickly engaged the terrorists in a brutal fight forcing them to flee leaving the truck and the petroleum products.

He said, “Following the attack on the terrorists, reinforcement by troops of Sectors 1 and 2 gave the fleeing terrorists a hot pursuit with close air support from the Nigerian Air Force component of OPHK.

“During the encounter, six terrorists were neutralised, three AK 47 rifles and one rocket propelled grenade were captured, while one gun truck was destroyed.

“Two other gun trucks abandoned by the terrorists were also recovered.”