Soldiers Comb Boko Haram Hideouts, Kill 35
Troops
yesterday used jets and attack helicopters to bombard Boko Haram
Islamic camps in Sambisa Game Reserve, in Borno State, which is one of
their strongholds killing a number of the insurgents.
Over
3,600 military personnel comprising the Army, Navy, Police, the
Department of State Security, DSS and other security agencies and men of
Counter Terrorists Squad, CTS, are said to be involved in the campaign
to rout the Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts in the affected
states. Heavy weapons belonging to the insurgents including
anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns were destroyed by the military fighter
jets even as the Nigerian Army’s artillery long range surface to air
guns were also being used.The Sambisa Camps are believed to be
harbouring their training and enrolment base.
Director
of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade told Reuters
that several camps had been attacked, including the game reserve in
Borno state, but did not give further details.
“A
number of insurgents have been killed. There are a lot of casualties.
It is not just Sambisa, every camp is under attack. But we have not done
the mopping up operations on the ground to determine the numbers
killed,” Olukolade said, adding that, “there have been air strikes since
Wednesday, and were continuing yesterday. I cannot tell you the actual
number of terrorists killed, but I am optimistic we are making headway,
and at the end of the operation, we will be commended.” An unconfirmed
report however, said that one of the air strike jets was shot by the
insurgents, ‘’but the pilots manoeuvred it successfully and landed
safely at the base.’’
This
military offensive continued just as the Army said yesterday that its
personnel in Daura, Katsina State foiled an attempt by the Boko Haram
sect to overrun the ancient town by attacking and bombing government and
public institutions like police stations and banks, causing mayhem and
disrupting the peace of the residents of the area. Borno and Yobe states
and their environs have remained for two days without communication as
all the GSM networks were cut off to enable the military accomplish
their mission without hitches. No fewer than 35 of the insurgents had so
far been killed during the air strikes on their training camps.
Military Spokesman, Olukolade confirmed that jets and helicopter
gunships had been used to attack several camps. Nigerian forces are
trying to regain territory controlled by increasingly well-armed Boko
Haram Islamist insurgents in their north-eastern stronghold states of
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which were put under a state of emergency by
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday.
At
Gamboru, Ngala and Marte towns on the border with Cameroon in northern
Borno, residents said that heavily armed troops and tanks arrived on
Wednesday, sealing off previously unmanned border posts. Some sources
said that many innocent people, particularly those residing in the
remote areas along were not aware of the operations.The Defence
Headquarters in an update on the battle to dislodge Boko Haram from the
Northern borders of the country, confirmed earlier reports that it
destroyed some terrorists camps in Northern and Central Borno.
In
a statement in the evening, Olubolade said the soldiers destroyed much
of the insurgents’ weapons and logistics including vehicles, fuel dumps,
containers and power generators. The statement read, “advancing troops
of Special Task Force, STF, have destroyed some terrorists camps sited
in the forests of northern and central Borno. Heavy weapons including
anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns were also destroyed in the process.
“The
casualties inflicted on the insurgents in the cause of the assault will
be verified during mop up. The Defence Headquarters is quite satisfied
with the progress of the operation and the fighting spirit of
participating troops. The STF has been enjoined to sustain the tempo.
“Meanwhile, border posts have all been manned by security agents to
prevent escape or infiltrations by insurgents.”
Meanwhile,
the Army said that in the ensuing battle that followed the foiled
attack by Boko Haram to overrun Daura, lasted for four hours, it lost
two soldiers, just as an officer was shot and wounded while five Boko
Haram terrorists were killed and their vehicle recovered.
The
Chief of Civil Military Affairs, CMA, Major General Bola Koleoso, who
spoke on the issue said, “Two Boko Haram terrorists were killed during
gunfire exchange while three who escaped in their vehicle, had a road
traffic accident and died thus bringing the death to five.
“The
distress call (over the attack), came to our unit (35 Battalion)
located in Katsina. Immediately, our troops moved into Daura to take
charge of the situation. Some quantities of Improvised Explosive
Devices, IED’s were recovered. Two Golf cars, 10 AK 47 riffles used by
the terrorists were recovered.”
Keleoso
said some of the terrorists escaped with bullet wounds and requested
members of the public, to report to the nearest security agency, any
person found with such wounds. “Additionally, hospitals and clinics are
also warned not to treat any cases of gunshot wounds without reporting
such cases to security agencies. We also wish to emphasize that
civilians who hide Boko Haram terrorists will put themselves in danger
as they will be acting against the public and national interests,” he
said.
On
the attack on Bama where Boko Haram terrorists attempted to overrun the
Army Barracks there, Gen Koleoso said, “All of us are aware of what
happened in Bama, the accusations and all. But it has been found that
Boko Haram Terrorists in fake army camouflage uniforms were actually
responsible for the burning of the houses and the killing of the
civilians.
“The
following day, after the incident, several civilians were treated in
the multi-national JTF clinic in Baga by our medical team. Our uniforms
are being used in disguise. ’’In fact, in a number of instances, these
terrorists have burnt down buildings and vehicles in Maiduguri and all
these dastardly acts were blamed on the soldiers of the Nigerian army
just because they could not distinguish the fake uniform worn by
impersonators from the well kitted and trained members of the Nigerian
Army.”
On
fears being expressed that the massive deployment of troops in the
entire Northern flank for the operation to flush out Boko Haram in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states might affect security arrangements in
other parts of the country where there are crisis, the CMA said,
“Nigerians should feel free to go about their normal activities.
Nigerians should feel very safe. Our barracks and formations are still
in place. It doesn’t mean that because of the emergency, then troops
will not be available for other operations.”
