The Nigerian Army says its troops have killed six suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members who were on espionage along Damboa-Bulabulin-Maiduguri Road.
Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this on Thursday in a statement, explained that the terrorists ran into a fighting patrol team at Kukawa and were neutralised in the firefight that ensued with the troops.
Nwachukwu said the troops, under the aegis of Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised four terrorists on Wednesday, while troops of 195 Battalion, Sector 1, in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force at Dusman-Muna Garage, Borno killed other two ISWAP members.
According to him, four AK-47 rifles and four magazines, each loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, among others, were recovered from the terrorists.
The statement read, “The terrorists who were on espionage along Damboa-Bulabulin- Maiduguri Road ran into a fighting patrol team at Kukawa and were neutralised in the firefight that ensued with the troops.
“On further exploitation after the encounter, the gallant troops recovered from the terrorists, four AK 47 rifles and four Magazines, each loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“In a separate operation, troops of 195 Battalion, Sector 1 OPHK in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force at Dusman-Muna Garage, Borno state have eliminated two ISWAP terrorists in an ambush operation conducted along an identified ISWAP terrorists’ crossing point at Musari village.
“The troops also captured and destroyed an ISWAP logistics vehicle conveying assorted goods and contraband items belonging to members of the terrorist group. Items recovered by troops from the terrorists’ vehicle are two bags of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 2 bags of Detergent,120 packets of mosquito coils, l2 mosquito nets and five textile materials.
“Other items recovered are two bicycles, two bags of beans, a bag of corn and some quantity of fish.”
The senior military officer noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya urged the troops to maintain the aggressive posture in order to root out the terrorists from their enclaves.
