Nigerian Troops Report They Have Killed 50 Boko Haram Rebels Thwarting Attacks
by INUSA NDAHI AND UBONG UKPONG
Nigerian National Mirror
Jun 10, 2014
The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 50 Boko Haram terrorists and successfully averted their planned massive raid on communities in Borno and Adamawa states.
The insurgents were killed in Bita village, Gwoza local government area of Borno State on their way to attack some of the communities. A statement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed four soldiers wounded, while assorted arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered during the encounter.
“The terrorists, who were on their way to attack selected communities, were ambushed by troops along Bilta, Borno State on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.
“The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission about 10pm on Saturday. “Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven machine guns and 11 rocket propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.
“Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as four vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.
“The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility,” the DHQ said. In a related development, loud explosion caused by faulty solar street light batteries in Dikwa yesterday led to panic by the residents Our correspondent gathered that the explosion resulted in confusion and exodus of people, including women and children.
“There was no attack in Dikwa by the terror group,” said a senior security official in Maiduguri. “The locals were actually scared when they heard a scaring bang which was caused by some solar light batteries kept in a store,” the officer, who did not want his name mentioned, said. “Soon after the blast, troops in Dikwa fired friendly shots into the air and the residents mistook the development and fled.
Many people took to the bushes because they thought our men were engaging the terrorists. I want to assure you that normalcy has returned,” he said. Our correspondent also gathered that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Dikwa with his team visited the scene of the blasts only to discover that it was solar batteries explosion due to excessive heat.
Also yesterday, suspected Boko Haram gunmen reportedly kidnapped 20 women from a nomadic settlement near Chibok, Borno State, where the Islamic militants abducted over 200 schoolgirls and young women on April 15. Alhaji Tar, a member of the vigilante groups set up to resist Boko Haram’s attacks, said the men arrived at noon on Thursday in the Garkin Fulani settlement and forced the women to enter their vehicles at gunpoint.
He also said the women were driven away to an unknown location in the remote stretch of the state. Tar added that the group also kidnapped three young men who tried to stop them.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Services, DSS, has arrested a man accused of extorting money from influential members of the public, claiming to represent Boko Haram.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, Mr. Mike Omeri, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on efforts being made to locate the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and the general efforts to contain the raging insurgency in parts of the country.
The suspect, currently undergoing interrogation, was masquerading as a representative of the Book Haram terrorists. Omeri advised members of the public to be careful and watch out for shady characters in their areas and report them to security agents.
He also appealed to the public to bear with some inconveniences which they might be subjected to in the efforts to crush the insurgents. The NIC coordinator said: “There is the need for understanding of the series and seeming measures and activities all over the country.
Citizens are requested to cooperate with the operatives of security agencies despite the inconsistencies. “The essence is to ensure the safety of all in the current atmosphere of terrorists’ threat.
All actions taking by security agencies are not punitive or targeted at law-abiding citizens in any way. They are necessary step to safeguard and protect lives and properties.”
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| Nigerian Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade. |
Nigerian National Mirror
Jun 10, 2014
The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 50 Boko Haram terrorists and successfully averted their planned massive raid on communities in Borno and Adamawa states.
The insurgents were killed in Bita village, Gwoza local government area of Borno State on their way to attack some of the communities. A statement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed four soldiers wounded, while assorted arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered during the encounter.
“The terrorists, who were on their way to attack selected communities, were ambushed by troops along Bilta, Borno State on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.
“The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission about 10pm on Saturday. “Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven machine guns and 11 rocket propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.
“Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as four vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.
“The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility,” the DHQ said. In a related development, loud explosion caused by faulty solar street light batteries in Dikwa yesterday led to panic by the residents Our correspondent gathered that the explosion resulted in confusion and exodus of people, including women and children.
“There was no attack in Dikwa by the terror group,” said a senior security official in Maiduguri. “The locals were actually scared when they heard a scaring bang which was caused by some solar light batteries kept in a store,” the officer, who did not want his name mentioned, said. “Soon after the blast, troops in Dikwa fired friendly shots into the air and the residents mistook the development and fled.
Many people took to the bushes because they thought our men were engaging the terrorists. I want to assure you that normalcy has returned,” he said. Our correspondent also gathered that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Dikwa with his team visited the scene of the blasts only to discover that it was solar batteries explosion due to excessive heat.
Also yesterday, suspected Boko Haram gunmen reportedly kidnapped 20 women from a nomadic settlement near Chibok, Borno State, where the Islamic militants abducted over 200 schoolgirls and young women on April 15. Alhaji Tar, a member of the vigilante groups set up to resist Boko Haram’s attacks, said the men arrived at noon on Thursday in the Garkin Fulani settlement and forced the women to enter their vehicles at gunpoint.
He also said the women were driven away to an unknown location in the remote stretch of the state. Tar added that the group also kidnapped three young men who tried to stop them.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Services, DSS, has arrested a man accused of extorting money from influential members of the public, claiming to represent Boko Haram.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, Mr. Mike Omeri, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on efforts being made to locate the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and the general efforts to contain the raging insurgency in parts of the country.
The suspect, currently undergoing interrogation, was masquerading as a representative of the Book Haram terrorists. Omeri advised members of the public to be careful and watch out for shady characters in their areas and report them to security agents.
He also appealed to the public to bear with some inconveniences which they might be subjected to in the efforts to crush the insurgents. The NIC coordinator said: “There is the need for understanding of the series and seeming measures and activities all over the country.
Citizens are requested to cooperate with the operatives of security agencies despite the inconsistencies. “The essence is to ensure the safety of all in the current atmosphere of terrorists’ threat.
All actions taking by security agencies are not punitive or targeted at law-abiding citizens in any way. They are necessary step to safeguard and protect lives and properties.”
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