30th April, 2015
The Nigerian Military said troops from the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, on Wednesday killed several Boko Haram commanders and rescued more females.
The information was contained in a statement by Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations.
Usman said the troops cleared several terrorists’ strong points and training camps in the Sambisa forest in Borno and killed several commanders and foot soldiers of the terrorists.
“The troops have also rescued additional women and children. They have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing.
“During the encounter, unfortunately we lost a soldier while four others were wounded in action,” he said.
Usman said the troops destroyed two Armoured Personnel Carriers, two Buffalo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles.
“The gallant soldiers also recovered one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade and several AK-47 rifles.
“Sadly, one woman died and eight other women sustained gunshot wounds,” he said.
The Army spokesman said the troops destroyed nine terrorist camps in the forest, apart from the four destroyed on Tuesday.
He listed some of the camps as Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai and Jigide, Kotorima, Lagara Bello and Lagara Fulani, among others.
According to him, the troops’ morale is very high as they are poised to accomplish the task of destroying all terrorists’ camps and rescuing all those held hostage.
Usman added that the Director, Defence Information, Maj-.Gen. Chris Olukolade, would provide update on the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria later on Thursday.
It would be recalled that the troops on Tuesday rescued 293 females – 200 girls and 93 women – from the Sambisa forest.