Troops kill 3 terrorists, arrest scores of fleeing fighters, informants

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed three Boko Haram terrorists and arrested many of their fighters, informants, and logistics suppliers in recent battles in the North East theatre of operation.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Nwachukwu explained that the troops of 151 Task Force Battalion eliminated the terrorists in an ambush operation on their crossing point along Banki Junction – Miyanti road, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

According to him, the troops had on July 15 arrested some suspected terrorists who surrendered to troops along with their families, while fleeing their enclaves, after a continuous bombardment of their hideouts by troops of the Battalion.

He said the escaping terrorists and their families were arrested at the outskirts of Aza and Bula Daloye villages in Bama Local Government area of Borno State by troops of the Battalion on fighting patrol at Miyanti and Darajamel.

He said, “The arrested suspects comprised eleven adult male terrorists, five adult females and twelve children.

“The troops also recovered 27 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, three AK 47 rifle magazines and a black fragmental Jacket from the suspects. They are currently undergoing preliminary investigations.”

Nwachukwu further reported that troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force have on July 17, tracked and arrested Boko Haram informants and logistics suppliers at Lawanti and Gongolun Communities of Jere Local Government Area of Borno.

The Army spokesperson said the suspects had confessed to having been working as informants for the terrorists, whom they provide with information on troops’ movements, locations, deployments, strength, the calibre of weapons and other activities.

He said they also admitted to have supplied the terrorists with basic logistics for their daily survival, ranging from Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL), drugs, mosquito nets, kolanuts, recharge cards and foodstuff.