BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
In their effort to finally stamp out Boko Haram terrorists, Nigerian troops in collaboration with their Cameroonian counterparts have cleared many insurgents’ enclaves around the Cameroonian border and parts of Borno state, killing over 10 terrorists, while various Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factories were destroyed.
The Army in a statement signed by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka said troops are making tremendous progress, as on Friday, a patrol team from 5 Brigade, traversing Dogon Gida and New Marte stepped on an undetected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried by suspected Boko Haram terrorists. Unfortunately, he said, four soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and their vehicle was badly damaged. The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by the Nigeria Air Force, NAF.
The statement said nevertheless, the team has been reinforced and have continued their patrols until they fish out the perpetrators and neutralize them.
Also, to further buttress the collective resolve in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists operating between Nigeria and neighbouring countries, troops of 25 and 26 Task Force Brigades in conjunction with Cameroonian forces carried out clearance operation against the Boko Haram terrorists around Ngoshe village”.
Col. Sani further said “while the Cameroonian troops carried out the clearance, their Nigerian counterparts provided blocking forces at strategic points where they decisively dealt with fleeing terrorists that tried to escape. Consequently, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion also advanced to Mararraba, Angwan Fada, Dale, Wizha, Bokko Timit, Bokko Nasanu, Bokko Hide, up to Ngoshe village where they linked up with the Cameroonians.”
According to the statement, during the operations all Boko Haram terrorists’ enclaves within the area were cleared. In the process, the troops killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists and also rescued 45 persons which included 17 women and 28 children. The troops also discovered that the terrorists cratered the road linking Pulka, Mararraba and Ngoshe and safely detonated five IEDs buried by the terrorists. In addition, they also destroyed an IED manufacturing workshop in the village. They also cleared Sino village.”
“The Cameroonian forces have also knocked out Boko Haram terrorists’ gun trucks and raided and cleared several IED making factories along the border towns.”
