Military Obliterates Fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists

• DHQ refutes claim of 150 deaths in Yobe

By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja   


Troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade of 7Division, Nigerian Army in Gwoza, Borno State yesterday evening engaged Boko Haram terrorists fleeing Sambisa forest following the aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
This was disclosed yesterday in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman.

Usman said that the military decisively dealt with the fleeing terrorists in seven pick-up vans and some motorcycles mounted with assorted weapons such as rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-aircraft guns, adding that the attack led to the death of many of the insurgents.

“The troops also destroyed their vehicles, weapons and motorcycles. They also recovered a vehicle, one motorcycle, two AK47 rifles, large quantities of 7.62mm NATO and 12.7mm ammo,” he said.
The army spokesman also revealed that the troops have intensified their patrols and offensive action against the terrorists in the area.
Usman further added that following reports and distressed calls on suspected movements and planned attacks by Boko Haram terrorists around Damasak in Borno, the NAF conducted air surveillance and armed reconnaissance missions, while troops of the Nigerian Army were reinforced in the area.

According to him, the stories published by the media on the alleged massacre and drowning of over a hundred civilians in Kukuwa-Gari-Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State could not be substantiated.
Usman assured members of the public of the army’s commitment in the fight against Boko Haram, adding that the military would ensure the security of law-abiding citizens in the affected areas.

He also revealed: “Our troops have just arrested two fleeing key members of Boko Haram terrorists with two pick -p vehicles in Geidam, Yobe State. Both terrorists are being interrogated.”
Corroborating his statement on the Kukuwa-Gari slaughter, Defence Headquarters' (DHQ) spokesman, Col Rabe Abubakar, said the reports on the slaying and drowning of 150 persons in the local government were “utterly scurrilous and very misleading”.
“However, the truth of the matter is that the military got an intelligence report concerning a planned attack by Boko Haram on Kukuwa-Gari village in Yobe State. Following the tip-off, troops and the civilian JTF (youth vigilante group) laid ambush between Kukuwatashi and Kukuwa-Gari villages.

“The insurgents ran into them and a gun-battle ensued in which four Boko Haram members and one civilian JTF lost their lives. At the end of the encounter, two AK 47 rifles and two motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists were recovered from them.
“The Armed Forces therefore implore the media to always seek clarification of stories before going to press as most of these unsubstantiated reports tend to embolden or encourage the terrorists to believe they are invincible, thus instilling perpetual fear in the minds of the citizens, especially, those in the contested areas of the North-east,” Abubakar said.

He maintained that the military was doing all within its power to protect lives and property of Nigerians in any part of the country and solicited for the cooperation and understanding of the media to be partners in progress in the task.
Also, as part of his new strategy to tackle the Boko Haram Terrorist Group (BHT) at the North-east, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, has authorised the immediate establishment of a 2-level hospital at the largest internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Dele Alonge, announced in a statement yesterday, that the hospital would cater especially for elderly men, women and children in dire need of health care.
In addition to the establishment of the hospital, Alonge said the Air Chief also ordered the construction of a borehole to service the hospital and other people within the camp.

He said that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd), accompanied by the service chiefs visited several IDP camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States including the Dalori camp last week where it was observed that elderly men, women and children were in dire need of improved healthcare and water supply.
He said the CAS gave the NAF Director of Medical Services marching orders to establish a hospital with full complements to enhance the healthcare needs of the IDPs.

He added that the NAF has intensified the aerial bombardments of Sambisa forest.
Alonge also disclosed that the NAF’s F-7 fighter aircraft carried out interdiction mission over designated targets and suspected Boko Haram locations.
He said its Alpha jets also carried out armed reconnaissance and attacked some moving vehicles belonging to the terrorists.
“While, the Mi -24 and Mi-35 attack helicopters further carried out interdiction mission at some identified targets all in Sambisa forest,” he revealed.

Furthermore, Alonge said the ATR-42 and Diamond-142 surveillance aircraft continued with their ISR missions over Damasak, Alafia and Sambisa forest where some abandoned vehicles belonging to the terrorists were seen at some locations in the forest.
He said that the air force chief restated his commitment to continue with the air assault until total victory is achieved.