No fewer than 31 Boko Haram fighters were killed on Wednesday by the Nigerian troops who foiled a terrorists’ attack in Askira Uba town in Borno State.
Nine gun trucks out of the 11 which the insurgents rode into Askira Uba were also destroyed by troops.
Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade, headquartered in Chibok local government played a major role in searching and tracing the terrorists’ hideouts.
A military intelligence officer told PRNigeria that Nigerian Air Force, NAF, aircraft shelled the Boko Haram gun trucks, while the ground troops pursued fleeing terrorists for elimination.
“Aircraft were scrambled from Yola and Maiduguri within minutes after ground troops sent the signal.
“For the first time in years, the speed of response between the air taskforce and ground troops was unprecedented,” the intelligence officer said.
He also said that the mobile task teams had also been very active in eliminating combatant terrorists seen on sight and hidden in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State and Chairman Senate Committee on Army has commended the renewed vigour and fighting spirit of troops in recent weeks.
He said: “I commend the efforts of the men of the Armed Forces which has now given the people confidence that when they hear any information and contact the Army, they would come to their aid.
“The military operation in Askira Uba was professionally executed as there was no loss of lives or property of the indigenes except the killings of the insurgents that attacked the town.”
