Nigerian Army on Tuesday revealed that combined air
strikes and artillery bombardment have killed 40 fighters and top commander of
terrorist group, Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) during a
fire-fight in Damaturu, Yobe State capital; Biu and Gwoza in Borno State.
This came as troops also ramped up attacks against
insurgents in Biu and Gwoza Local Government Councils of Borno State.
Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, urged the troops
to remain resolute in order to win the war against insurgency.
Giving details of the battle of Damaturu, the
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col Aminu IlIyasu, said the
combined troops of Sector 2 and Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole
dislodged the insurgents' advance with combined artillery bombardment and sustained
airstrikes.
He said a top ISWAP Commander, Abu Mukhtar, who
coordinated several attacks on the fringes of Lake Chad, was among the over 30
terrorists decimated during the fierce encounter.
According to him, "During the encounter, the
resilient troops promptly mobilised and blocked the insurgents’ advance on
Gashua Road in the outskirts of Damaturu, Yobe State.
“The troops, thereafter, engaged the criminals in a
fierce fire-fight with the support of Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole
which unleashed devastating firepower from the air to help take out some of
the criminals' gun trucks.”
IlIyasu stated that "the superior firepower of
the troops forced the insurgents to withdraw in disarray albeit with very heavy
casualty in both men and equipment. It is confirmed that a top ISWAP Commander,
Abu Muqhtar, believed to have coordinated several attacks along the fringes of
Lake Chad, was neutralised along with over 30 other insurgents in that attack."
The army war update said: "Regrettably, two
gallant soldiers were wounded in action during the encounter. The wounded soldiers
are currently receiving treatment and responding positively at a military
medical facility.
"In the aftermath of the encounter, troops
captured one gun truck and destroyed two others. Troops equally captured 561
rounds of 12.7mm ammunition and 1,420 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition."
It said troops also recovered "1,850 rounds of
7.62mmx51 ammunition and two rocket-propelled gun bombs. Other items captured
by the gallant troops included one handheld communication radio, 27 sachets of
meal, ready-to-eat wraps and 350 litres of petrol.”
On the planned attack in Mandara-Girau axis of Biu
town in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, Col Ilyasu said the
terrorists mounted on 17 gun trucks and motorcycles met stiff resistance.
"In a swift and commendably bold response, the
troops of 231 battalion moved and engaged the advancing criminals while troops
of 331 Artillery Regiment brought to bear artillery bombardment on the
insurgents, forcing them to withdraw in disarray amid heavy casualty.
"In yet another development, in the early hours
of December 23, 2019, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion deployed in Pulka in
Gwoza LGA of Borno State also thwarted another Boko Haram attack on their
location with devastating consequences,” he said.
The Chief of Army Staff, Buratai, while commending the
troops, urged them to remain resolute in order to finish the war.
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