Troops kill 82 Boko Haram insurgents in one month, 69 surrender

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Troops deployed for counter- insurgency operations have killed a total of 82 members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents within the last one month, Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru disclosed this yesterday
Speaking at a press conference in Maiduguri, Major Gen. Attahiru said the last one month has been characterized by intensified operations against the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) group through major coordinated air and land operations were conducted to further degrade the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT).
“Troops have continued to conduct fighting patrols, clearance and ambush operationvfleeing BHT elements and totally dominate the Theatre. A total of 82 BHT were killed in combat, 630 settlements were cleared while 468 persons were rescued and handed over to various IDP camps within the period under review. Some of the operational activities embarked upon by own troops will be highlighted”, he declared.
He explained that the period under reviewcwitnessed series of ambushes against BHT, fighting patrols, clearance operations as well as cordon and search operations, while many of the BHT surrendered to own troops following the highly effective and successful operations.
Others, he said resorted to desperate bid to remain afloat by callously engaging in suicide bombing and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks.
“There were also cases of BHT carrying out ambushes on own troops as a form of reprisal to prove their perversity. To this end, the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) which are a highly mobile group of Special Forces teams were inaugurated to secure the Main Supply Routes (MSRs) in addition to conducting limited clearance operations.Notwithstanding the few setbacks recorded, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE remain undaunted in the accomplishment of their mandate. This brief will thus, shed light on the operational activities of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the last one month”, he declared.
While highlights on the varies assaults carried out against the militants, the theater commander said: “As the first half of the year wrapped up, troops conducted ambush at suspected BHT route along Logomani–Gamboru axis on 29 June 2017. Five BHTs were killed in the ambush operation and troops recovered one AK-47 rifle with registration number: 565203290, one AK 47 magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions, 27 bicycles, 15 machetes and 4 daggers and 2 fuel hoses. The following day, precisely on 30 June 2017, troops conducted clearance operations at Musule, Bazanna, Turbuna, Goneri, Muburashe, Murya, Ajira and Durme villages in Dikwa LGA, where 30 persons were rescued and 11 Dane guns, 2 pairs of old camouflage uniform and one Army raincoat believed to have been abandoned by fleeing BHT elements were recovered.”
The Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE called on the insurgents to surrender to any military location nearest to them, as there will be no cessation of the on-going offensive until BHT are completed defeated”, the theater commander further explained.

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