Nigerian Troops Prevent Attacks In Borno, Kill 18 Boko Haram Terrorists, Capture More Weapons

Nigerian military has reported that it prevented terrorist attacks in the outskirts of Bama and Ngurosoye, Borno state, while destroying 18 suspected Boko Haram insurgents and capturing more weapons.

Major General Chris Olukolade

This information is contained in a statement released on Monday in Abuja by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information.

Olukolade, who is also the Coordinator of the Joint Information Centre Counter Terrorism Campaign, disclosed that the terrorists were killed during military patrol at the weekend.
One soldier was killed and five wounded.
He also said that the troops dislodged the terrorists who were preparing for an attack on the settlements.
During the encounter 16 burnt AK 47 rifles were found in the debris. The troops also destroyed five pick-up vehicles, seven Golf cars and one Hillux truck.

"A total of 75 villagers were screened and released in the course of cordon and search in the adjoining communities. "The purported bomb attack on a market in the vicinity, as widely reported in the media, is, however, yet to be verified," Olukolade said.

He said that troops eventually invaded camps in the outskirts of Gombole, Mele, Kecheri, Dufrfada, and Yuwe around Mandara mountains and Sambisa forests after stiff resistance.
Some of the terrorists’ camps falling to the forces in the ongoing campaign had been found deserted.
According to Olukolade, in addition to air surveillance and patrols designed "to smoke out the remnants of the terrorists", the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has also stepped up patrols of the banks of lake Chad and surrounding communities.

"The air raids on some camps sited on Islands have also recorded successes in dislodging the terrorists located there. "Cordon and search for the terrorists have been focused on thorough screening of the villagers in surrounding communities. "Many terrorists have been identified and subsequently apprehended by troops in the process."

Olukolade added that said that troops’ fighting spirit had remained high.