• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Nigerian troops kill 64 Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe

Nigerian Military

The Nigerian military says it’s troops of Operation Lafiya Dole has killed no fewer than 64 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Yobe state and several others in Borno state in the last week.

The military says its troops also destroyed several tertorists hideouts, gun trucks and recovered cache of arms and ammunition belonging to the terrorists.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, a Major General, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, said, “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole came in contact with some Boko Haram elements between Goniri and Gorgi in Gujba and Damaturu Local Government Areas of Yobe and Borno States.

“Accordingly, troops engaged the terrorists and neutralized several of them, while 10 gun trucks were recovered by the troops.

He added, “In another development, on 9 January 2021, troops of the newly launched subsidiary Operation Tura Takai Bango had contact and engaged some marauding BHT criminal elements at Gujba Local Government of Yobe State.

“During the encounter, 28 terrorists were neutralized and several others escaped with gunshot wounds, while one gun truck and several arms and ammunition were recovered. Similarly on same day, troops had an encounter with some BHT/ISWAP terrorists at Gonan Kaji Village along Damaturu-Buni Yadi Road in Yobe State, during which 30 terrorists were killed in contact while caches of arms and ammunition were recovered by troops.

“In same vein, on 10 January 2021, troops had contact and engaged with some marauding BHT elements at Kafa Village in Damboa Local Government Are of Yobe State. During the encounter, 6 terrorists were neutralized and a gun truck and several weapons as well as equipment belonging to the terrorists were destroyed.”

In the South South, Enenche said troops of Operation Delta Safe, intercepted 1,184 bags of Yaraliva Nitrabor Fertiliser suspected to be smuggled in from Cameroon around Effiat Waterways, Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the fertilizer poses a security threat considering current security challenges, and it’s potentials to be used for explosives.

According to him, the possibility of it being acquired by criminal gangs, terrorists and militants for sinister purposes cannot be disregarded as fertilizer has remained a potential component for the fabrication of explosives owing to its content of ammonium nitrate.

The Coordinator informed that the two suspects on board and the items are in custody and will soon be handed over to appropriate prosecuting authorities for further action.

Enenche also noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, had a policy on the use of fertilisers in the country due to criminal usage of the product other than agriculture. He said the policy had prohibited individuals from bringing in fertilisers and selling them to individuals.

In the North Central zone, Enenche said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke successfully carried out a daring rescue operation at Mararaba Udege general area in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, rescuing 3 kidnapped persons and neutralizing one armed bandit in a fire fight.

“Similarly, on 8 January 2021, troops of operation Safe Haven apprehended 4 suspected cultists at UV Martins Street in Jos North LGA of Plateau State”, Enenche said.