Army kills 20 Boko Haram insurgents, rescues 100 persons

20 Décembre 2017

Abuja, Nigeria, December 20 (Infosplusgabon) - The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said its troops killed 20 Boko Haram insurgents during a “clearance operation” in the Lake Chad Basin.

The Army also said that it captured 17 Boko Haram insurgents, rescued 100 people, recovered vehicles and ammunition.

The Spokesman of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Timothy Antigha, said in a statement that six soldiers, however, sustained various degrees of injuries in the operation. They have been referred to military medical facility for treatment.

He said the operations were conducted in the past two weeks in Islands in Lake Chad region to crush Boko Haram insurgents inhabiting the islands.

According to Antigha, “in continuation of Operation DEEP PUNCH 2, designed to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists inhabiting remote Islands in Lake Chad basin lying within Nigerian territory, troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, on Operation LAFIYA DOLE, supported by soldiers of the Armed Forces Strike Group have inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram terrorists.

“The operation which commenced about two weeks ago preceded by coordinated air and artillery bombardments of islands and localities occupied by terrorists. The insurgents sneak into Magumeri, Kauram and other locations to loot property, attack security personnel and villagers. Islands and villages cleared so far include: Arena Chiki, Chikun Gudu, Arena Waje, Sa’ada and Juwe.”

Antigha added that preliminary investigation revealed that most of the rescued persons were held hostage and forced to work in the farms.

Antigha listed the ammunition recovered to include one Mercedes Benz Truck; two gun trucks, two pick up vans, one anti-aircraft machine gun, five AK-47 riffles, three Fabrique Nationals (FN) Riffles, two G3 Riffles and one Pump Action Riffle.

Others include one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, two bombs, two Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios and one Night Vision Goggle.

The troops also recovered 55 rounds of 5.56 X 45 mm ammunition, 5 Bangalore Torpedo, Two 120mm Mortar Bombs, and 1000 rounds of 7.62 mm Ball Metal Link ammunition.

Other ammunition included 55 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 108 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, two memory cards, two hydraulic jacks and a 1.5 amp battery.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/MRD/GABON 2017

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