Nigerian army says the Multinational Joint Task Force has inflicted heavy casualties on Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in fresh offensives.
It said the troops killed 27 ISWAP fighters during the onslaught that was carried out with the Air Task Force.
The Chief of Military Public Information Headquarters, MNJTF, Colonel Muhammad Dole, disclosed this in statement on Wednesday.
According to him, six traumatised female hostages were rescued during a clearance operation while a soldier lost his life.
It read in part, “The ATF identified intelligence-driven targets which they engaged using multiple sorties in the vicinity of Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Rago, where about twenty terrorists were neutralised.
“Tunbun Rago was found deserted with Boko Haram corpses and a shallow grave containing Boko Haram corpses discovered, as the criminals beat a hasty retreat.
“Ground forces then advanced and reached Tunbun Fulani but could not access Tunbun Rago due to marshy terrain.
“The criminals on sighting the advancing troops fled and abandoned their checkpoint, pulled off their uniforms and left their rifles and other equipment behind.
“In another encounter with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the course of further clearance operations by the MNJTF troops of Sector 1 (Cameroon) in the vicinity of Toumbuma, Kerenua, and Chikingudu, troops neutralised two Boko Haram criminals and maintained dominance in the area.
“At the end of the earlier battle engagement around Tunbun Fulani and Tunbun Rago, six (6) traumatised female BHTs hostages managed to escape and were found by troops who then assisted them and brought them to troops’ location.
“They were professionally handled and given medical care in the bush.
“The rescued women have been moved to Maiduguri for further processing and handover to the civil authorities before they re-join their families
“Sadly, one soldier paid the supreme sacrifice and few others were wounded in action, currently receiving treatment at a military hospital.”