Nigeria Military Repels Boko Haram Attack, Rescues 455 Hostages

•Kills over 34 terrorists, captures spy

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian military has successfully repelled an attack by the Boko Haram terrorists against their positions in parts of Borno state, and rescued 455 hostages.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Saturday that the terrorists had in the early hours of Friday, armed with five gun trucks, motorcycles and two Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Sambisa forest axis attempted an attack on 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka.

“The ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed seven Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition.

“We wish to state that our troops are hale and hearty,” Usman remarked.

In a related development, he said, troops of 3 Battalion caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala.

According to him, the suspect confessed on interrogation that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge.

Consequent upon this, he said, the troops organised a fighting patrol comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari.

“The troops had encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered five motorcycles and 8 bicycles. They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recovered an AK-47 rifles as well as a Dane gun,” he disclosed.

Usman said that the troops also rescued 455 persons and escorted them to Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp.

He however confirmed that they lost one of the Civilian JTF, adding that the troops’ morale remains very high.