Troops kill Boko Haram terrorists, rescue prisoners in Borno

Trops of 26 and 121 Task Force Brigades and Battalion of Nigerian Army, disclosed yesterday that they killed several Boko Haram fighters and rescued 16 hostages held at Ngoshe prison in Borno State.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman disclosed this in a statement issued to newsman in Maiduguri.


Usman said the troops also recovered caches of arms and ammunitions, during their clearance military operations in the Cameroonian border areas with Gava and Ngoshe towns.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman disclosed this in a statement issued to newsman in Maiduguri.

According to him, “The essence of the patrol, which was supported by the Nigeria Air Force and Cameroonian Defense Forces, who provided air cover and real time Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, was to clear the remnants of the terrorists hiding in the Mandara Mountains and rescue all persons held hostages by the Boko Haram terrorists.”

He said the troops’ objective in Ngoshe village, was to dislodge the terrorists and clear them off from the foot of the mountains of Gwoza that extends for 16 kilometres.

Usman said: “Although the number of terrorists killed could not be ascertained, quite a number of them
were seen falling over the mountains when engaged, while
others escaped with gunshot wounds.”

“The recovered arms and ammunition include, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, four RPG bombs, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one Fabrque Nationale (FN) rifle and three AK-47 rifles,” he said.

Other recovered arms include, a Sub Machine Gun, a locally made pistol and double-barrel gun, a Smoke Grenade, 243 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and a round of 7.62mm special ammunitions.

Usman also added: “Other items recovered include an address card, three Boko Haram terrorists flags and a Toyota Hilux vehicle painted in desert camouflage colour and motorcycles.

Meanwhile, as the clearing operations in the northeast continue, troops of sector 1 of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), with Tactical Headquarters in Makary, Northern Cameroun, have arrested 24 suspected Boko Haram insugents along the Nigeria-Cameroun borders.

A statement issued yesterday by the chief military Public Information Officer of the MNJTF, Col Muhammad Dole, said the troops on operation ‘Gama Aiki,’ to block fleeing militants, cleared six villages during the operation.

He, however, said one soldier was also killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded, while another was fatally wounded, loosing one of his lower limbs during the operation.”