In the early hours of Friday, Nigerian troops repelled an attack in Borno State by Boko Haram members who came in five gun trucks, many motorcycles and two gulf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the Army said in a statement.
The terrorists came from the Sambisa forest axis and attempted an attack on the 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka, Borno State, said Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman.
“The ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed 7 Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition. We wish to state that our troops are hale and hearty,” Colonel Usman said.
Boko Haram has killed more than 25,000 people in Nigeria in seven years, Displaced 2.5 million and kidnapped many others. This week, the world remembered the Chibok girls who have been in captivity since 14 February 2014, the day they were abducted un Borno State as they prepared for exams.
The mass abduction shocked the world and triggered an unprecedented global outrage with American First Lady, Michelle Obama, and other world celebrities joining the #Bringbackourgirls campaign.
But two years after, there has been little pressure on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to bring back the Chibok girls since he defeated Goodluck Jonathan more than a year ago. Last December, President Buhari announced that Boko Haram had been “technically defeated”, but in Borno, the war seems to still be raging.
The attack on Friday was just one of several attacks staged by Boko Haram almost on a daily basis.
Colonel Usman said troops of 3 Battalion also caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala.
“On interrogation, he confessed that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge. Consequent upon this the troops organised a fighting patrol comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari,” the Army said.
“The troops had encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered 5 motorcycles and 8 bicycles. They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recovered 1 AK-47 rifles as well as 1 Dane gun.
“The troops also rescued 455 persons and escorted them to Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp. Unfortunately, we lost one of the Civilian JTF. Nevertheless, the troops’ morale remains very high,” Colonel Usman said.
Later in the evening of Friday, troops of the 103 Battalion “ambushed Boko Haram terrorists at Mairimri village crossing point in which they killed quite a number of terrorists, recovered 15 bicycles and foodstuffs. Further confirmatory reconnaissance would be conducted to further exploit the situation,” he added.