Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke have neutralised three bandits and destroyed criminal hideouts during a clearance operation in the Karim Lamido local government area of Taraba state.
The operation, which took place on Saturday as part of the ongoing Operation Lafiya Jamaa, was aimed at dismantling the criminal network wreaking havoc on the state’s security.
In a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni, on Sunday, the troops targeted known bandit hideouts, clearing the Achalle area before advancing to Chibi.
“On arrival at Chibi, the troops made contact with the bandits, who began fleeing upon sighting the advancing forces. In the engagement that followed, three bandits were neutralised, and several makeshift camps used by the criminals were destroyed,” the statement read.
Items recovered during the operation include two motorcycles, one AK-47 rifle magazine, and 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The statement added that troops also conducted a sweep of the Dutsen Zaki and Achalle axis, where more than 70 criminal camps have been dismantled in recent weeks.
“No human activity was observed during this latest sweep, indicating the sustained success of previous operations,” Oni said.
Commander of 6 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their tactical success and assured residents that there would be no haven for terrorists or criminal elements in Taraba.
A Captain and Corporal soldier were among scores of Boko Haram terrorists killed in Izge village, Gwoza local government area of Borno state.
The incident took place about 1:am on Sunday when armed terrorists invaded the troops’ formation in Izge, sources have revealed.
This attack came barely two weeks when armed Boko Haram terrorists raided the Wajirko army formation in the Damboa local government area with another formation in Wulgo village of Gamboru Ngala local government area in Borno state, which led to casualties on the side of the troops.
According to information gathered, the terrorists struck with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), targeting the Izge platoon formation of troops ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, which led to a fierce battle and exchange of gunfire for some hours before resilient residents of the community with support from vigilantes and local hunters complemented efforts of the military to repel the attack.
Izge is located in the heart of the Sambisa forests, about 20km southwest of Gwoza town.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South), who also hails from the Gwoza local government area, expressed shock over the increasing Boko Haram onslaught in his constituency.
He noted that, although the military and other security agencies were doing their best, “the federal government should take a decisive action by deploying sophisticated and technological warfare including drones to military and other security agencies to end the over decade Boko Haram crisis affecting the people of the North East region.”
Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, proved abortive at press time but chairman of Gwoza LGA, Hon. Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the incident, adding that he was yet to be briefed on the number of casualties from the side of the troops, even as he said scores of the terrorists were killed in the clash.