The Nigerian military said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in North-east have killed 61 Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists while several others surrendered .
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving updates on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.
He said, “In all 61 BHT/ISWAP criminals were neutralized in the theatre, aside from those that escaped with gunshot wounds with narrow chances of survival.”
He said the number of terrorists that have surrendered recently is as a result of renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality.
“On 11 May 2020, 11 ISWAP fighters surrendered to troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Adamawa state. The repentant insurgents are being profiled for further action.
“This number of surrendered BHT/ISWAP fighters is an indication of the heat of our operational activities on the terrorists due to the renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality. There are indications that more terrorists are willing to surrender.
“One of such moves was the dropping off of 72 family members of BHTs/ISWAP at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno state on 10 May 2020 around 8.30pm, comprising 33 women and 39 children. All of them are in custody of troops for further action,” he said.
Explaining how the terrorists were killed, Enenche said that the troops of OPLD on May 8, neutralised three suicide bombers that attempted to infiltrate their defence location at Uvaha High Ground Area in Limankara, Gwoza local government area.
He added that the troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and 271 Task Force Tank Battalion had also killed 18 terrorists within the past one week.
These operations, according to him, took place at Gamboru Ngala, Firgi Mubi – Kamale Road in Michika local government area of Adamawa as well as Ngoshe near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
“A total of 72 persons were also rescued from the Boko Haram Terrorists.
“Also, on May 9, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, at Pulka-Ngurosoye, near Bama town repelled BHT ambush and killed 20 terrorists, while on escort duty.
“On May 13, OPLD troops killed nine terrorists in an ambush at Mainok–Jakana axis in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.
“Two gun trucks mounted with anti-aircraft gun were captured,” he said.
Enenche further disclosed that the troop of Army Super Camp at Mallam Fatori on May 11, killed several terrorists and destroyed their vehicles and logistics bases at Tumbun Fulani in Abadam local government of Borno.
Under Operation Whirl Stroke, Enenche disclosed that the troops on May 12, killed four suspected armed herdsmen while responding to a distress call on infiltration at Agasha in Guma local government area of Benue state.
He added that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 65 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from them.
