By Mustapha Buhari, Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army has dealt a major blow on Boko Haram, killing 15 insurgents and seizing a large quantity of arms and ammunition.
A statement by the spokesman to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kingsley Samuel, said the troops successfully repelled the terrorists who attempted incursion into their location in Sambisa forest, Borno State on Thursday morning.
“The troops’ resilience paid off with heavy battering of Boko Haram terrorists leading to the terrorist sustaining huge casualties in fighters and equipment.
“The terrorists paid dearly as the troops neutralized 15 of them and wounded several others.
“In addition, the gallant troops made heavy seizures with the destruction of 1 vehicle bound Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) belonging to the terrorists and capture of 1 Buffalo Gun truck mounted with Long Barrel Shilka Gun, 2 General Purpose Machine Gun, 1 PKM Gun, mortar tubes, 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 1 G3 rifle.
“Others are 5 pieces of 60mm mortar Bombs, various GSM handsets, 36 Hand Grenade, 12 rifle magazines, Shilka fill tray, 750 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 106 rounds of 32mm ammunition, a 12 volt battery, 3 Automatic Grenade Launcher bombs and 5 mortar charges, among others.
“The GOC enjoined troops to remain resolute in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in the North East in order to ensure total compliance with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai’s directive that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists are flushed out of Nigerian territory.
“The acting General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu has commended troops of 21 Brigade of the division for delivering a devastating deep punch to Boko Haram terrorists leading to the capture of a large quantity of terrorists’ equipment,” Samuel, a lieutenant colonel, said.
