20 B/Haram killed, 17 captured – Army

By Abubakar Sadiq

Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army said yesterday that its troops had killed 20 Boko Haram insurgents in a clearance operation in the Lake Chad Basin.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Timothy Antigha, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.
Antigha said that the troops captured 17 insurgents, rescued 100 people, recovered vehicles and ammunition.
He said six soldiers sustained injuries in the operation but have been referred to military medical facility for treatment, explaining that the operations were conducted in the past two weeks in Islands in Lake Chad region to crush Boko Haram insurgents inhabiting the place.
“In continuation of Operation DEEP PUNCH 2, designed to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists inhabiting remote Islands in Lake Chad basin lying within Nigerian territory, troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, on Operation Lafiya Dole, supported by soldiers of the Armed Forces Strike Group, have inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram terrorists.
“The operation which commenced about two weeks ago preceded by coordinated air and artillery bombardments of islands and localities occupied by terrorists.
“The insurgents sneaked into Magumeri, Kauram and other locations to loot property, attack security personnel and villagers.
“Islands and villages cleared so far include; Arena Chiki, Chikun Gudu, Arena Waje, Sa’ada and Juwe,” he said.
Antigha disclosed that the rescued civilians included 100 elderly men, women and children, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that most of the rescued persons were held hostage and forced to work in the farms.
The army spokesman listed the ammunition recovered to include one Mercedes Benz truck; 2 gun trucks, 2 pickup vans, one anti – aircraft machine gun, 5 AK-47 riffles, 3 fabrique nationals (FN) Riffles, 2 G3 riffles and one pump action riffle.
Others are: one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) tube, 2 bombs, 2 very high frequency (VHF) radios and one night vision goggle.
The troops also recovered 55 rounds of 5.56 X 45 mm ammunition, 5 bangalore torpedo, two 120mm mortar bombs, and 1000 rounds of 7.62 mm ball metal link ammunition.
Other ammunitions included 55 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 108 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, two memory cards, 2 hydraulic jacks and a 1.5 amp battery. (NAN)

 

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