Wednesday May 4, 2016 at about 7.00pm, Boko Haram terrorists attacked Nigerian troops involved in clearance and rescue operations in Sambisa forest nicknamed “Operation CRACKDOWN”, while on harbour.
The terrorists came in 5 Toyota Hilux vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns which they fired along with 81mm mortar, but the battle ready troops rose to the occasion and repelled the attack and pursued the terrorists that withdrew in disarray towards the river line of Izza-Mainyakare axis.
The attack lasted for about 40 minutes without any casualty on the side of the troops while an unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists were killed. The troops recovered an 81mm mortar tube from the terrorists.
The troops maintain highest level alertness and vigilance at the harbour area and will continue with the clearance operation.
Troops of 7 Division, based on information received, conducted a special operation at Chingurimi, Walasa and Masa villages which were believed to have large concentration of abducted women and children, held as hostages by the Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday May 4, 2016.
The troops killed a number of terrorists and rescued 17 women, an old man and 24 children in the area. They also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 6 rounds of 7.62mm, 295 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 12 Dane Guns, 21 unserviceable mobile telephone handsets and one serviceable as well as150 different SIM cards. In all, the troops rescued over 400 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.
Also at the early hours of Wednesday May 4, 2016, troops of 156 Task Force Battalion, 29 Task Force Brigade, assisted by Civilian JTF embarked on a long range patrol aimed at clearing remnants of Boko Haram terrorists at Ngula and Kukuruk villages in Alagarno general area. The troops encountered and engaged surprised elements of Boko Haram terrorists in a gun battle. The terrorists escaped leaving trails of blood from gunshot injuries they sustained. The patrol team later made startling discoveries in the area.
They found that it served as the Boko Haram terrorists’ administration and harbour area, Field Hospital and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factory. The troops recovered the following items at the base; 6 Motorcycles, 2 Bicycles, 4 Machine Gun Mounts, 1 Power Generating Set, 3 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) Tyres, 10 Bags of assorted foodstuff, 4 different Vehicles Radiators, a Wheel chair, 2 Clutches, 1 Stretcher and 11 different Car batteries.
Other items include 3 Gas Cylinders, 2 Stabilizers, 1 Welding Machine, 3 Motorcycle Batteries and 4 Gallons stuffed with grains. The troops also recovered 1 Toyota Buffalo Engine, 1 Toyota Hilux Engine, 1 Blanket, 1 Megaphone, 1 Escola’s Box, 4 Motorcycle Wheels, 1 Grinding Machine, 1 vehicle gear box, 1 damaged part of a Canter truck, military uniforms, an unserviceable laptop, 2 Wheel barrows and 3 Vehicle Jacks.
Similarly, the patrol team recovered 3 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 31 IEDs Primers, 2 Flash Drives containing vital information, Surgical Gloves and Urine bags.
Other items recovered include Bandages, 2 tyre pumps, .50 inch Browning Machine Gun parts, as well as a 60mm Mortar Bomb, Sphygmomanometer, Anti-Tetanus Injection, Penicillin Injections and other medications and medical equipment. They also recovered a trailer truck, damaged vehicle, 2 Slates, Holy Qur’an, Handcuffs and Solar Panels among other items. The team has followed the blood trail left by the insurgents and exploiting further to dominate the general area with patrols to further secure it.
