MNJTF Kills 56 Terrorists in Offensive *Destroys six gun trucks, recover arms, ammunition

With air strikes and offensive from ground troops, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) at the weekend killed 56 terrorists in different operations in continuation of Operation Yancin Tafki which was launched last month.

Troops comprising air and land components from Chad, Cameroon, Niger Republic and Nigeria engaged the terrorists operating along the Kamadougou River, between Niger and Nigeria, who attacked their location in Gueskerou, about 30 kilometres from Diffa in Niger Republic.

In the first attack, troops killed 27 terrorists, destroying six  gun trucks and captured several equipment, arms and ammunition. A few terrorists, who survived the fire-fight, escaped towards Gashigar in the Nigerian territory while troops followed in hot pursuit.

In the second confrontation with terrorist group, Boko Haram,  around Abadam, in the general area of Mallam Fatori, killing 23 insurgents and recovering  several arms and ammunition including three gun trucks, having destroyed another four gun trucks, 47 AK 47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), five motorcycles, three hand grenades among others while one terrorist was captured alive.

"It would be recalled that about ten days ago, MNJTF troops also struck Boko Haram terrorists in Dorou in Niger Republic, neutralising many of them in the process. The MNJTF is therefore determined to intensify subsidiary operations such as raids, ambushes and fighting patrols among others until the last strong hold of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin is neutralised," a statement issued in N'jamena, Chad by Chief  Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha, said.

 

In a related development, troops of the 122 Task Force Battalion located in Ngwom Community in Borno State, at the weekend, killed six terrorists when the military base was attacked by terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The insurgents attacked the troops in four gun trucks mounted on anti-aircraft guns, prompting a fire-fight  that lasted for hours.

Similarly, troops deployed in Gulak engaged another set of terrorists in Kubu Village while responding to a distress call.

In the fierce encounter that ensued in Ngwom, the terrorists were outgunned, leading to the death of five of the insurgents while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The troops recovered two  trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, two rocket-propelled grenades and five AK 47 rifles.

The fierce encounter in Kubu Village of Shani Local Government Area of the state  also led to the death of one terrorist and the recovery of one AK 47 rifle.

"The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu commended the troops.

 "He conveyed the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai's commendation and  continued support in the war against terrorism and insurgency. He urged them to maintain the momentum at all times", an army statement said