Many Boko Haram militants killed, army deploys mine sweepers

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 4:57 pm

Nigerian soldiers with a military tank. NAN Photo

The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that it had deployed its newly acquired hi-tech mine clearing equipment in the ongoing military operation against Boko Haram in the North East.

Acting Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in an update of the counter-insurgency war said other supporting weapons and ammunitions had also been launched in the ongoing operations across the area.

He said the commissioned equipment were the first mine clearing machines in the inventory of the Nigerian Army and among the best in the world.

The army spokesman said the introduction of new equipment for the northeast operation had begun to yield results.

Usman disclosed that Nigerian troops in joint operation with their Cameroonian counterparts had destroyed many of the insurgents hideout around Talala-Kumashe axis. Some of their weapons and equipment were either destroyed or captured.

Among the weapons destroyed were: 4 AK 47 rifles and capture of a gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun (AA Gun) and 2 AK 47 rifles, as well as a 60mm mortar and a Dane gun.

According to Usman, 150 persons, mainly children, were rescued at Kodo community in Borno by troops in the ongoing offensive against the insurgents.

Along the Talala axis despite an IED in which 1 soldier was wounded and a damaged vehicle, the operation is progressing very well. More so as the Nigerian Air Force has been assisting with interdiction and surveillance.

In addition, a house with Boko Haram terrorists flag at Fatake caught fire with several ammunitions explosions in which 3 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in the house.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has commended the troops for their impressive performance thus far. He made the commendation shortly after a briefing by the Deputy Theatre Commander and also the Land Component Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General LEO Irabor and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu at the Theatre Command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri.

The Chief of Army Staff was in Maiduguri on official visit to formations and units in the North East. He was accompanied by the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General YM Abubakar and other senior officers from the Army Headquarters.