Nigerian troops on routine operation have discovered piles of street lamp poles used in making Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) by Boko Haram insurgents, the Nigeria Army said in Abuja on Thursday.

The army, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said that the troops made the startling discovery while combing and clearing terrorists around Dikwa, Borno state on Wednesday.

“During the painstaking operation, the troops of 7 Divisions Garrison, in a cordon and search operation in Jakana village, also recovered 15 cows, 174 goats and a donkey from rustlers.

“The animals have since been handed over to their identified legitimate owners while the rustlers have been apprehended and are currently undergoing investigation,’’ Usman said.

He said that troops on operation early Thursday morning dislodged elements that attacked Dumbuluwa village in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Usman said that the soldiers killed eight of the insurgents while two members of the vigilante group were injured by Improvised Explosive Devices fragments during the operation.

He said that the operations would continue in the area until all elements were dislodged from the hideouts and arrested for possible prosecution.