Troops Discover, Destroy Boko Haram Administrative Base

Repel terrorists’ attacks against Sambisa operation Rescue over 400 captives
Senator Iroegbu in Maiduguri

The troops from the 156 Task Force Battalion and 29 Task Force Brigade, assisted by Civilian JTF, early yesterday engaged some Boko Haram terrorists in a gun battle at Ngula and Kukuruk villages in Alagarno general area, where it discovered and destroyed the terrorist’s administrative base.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops during the operation, encountered and engaged the elements in a gun battle, some of which escaped leaving trails of blood from gunshot injuries they sustained.

Usman said the patrol team later made  startling discovery in the area; they found out that it  served as the Boko Haram terrorists’ administration and harbour area, field hospital and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factory.

He listed the items recovered by the troops at the base including; six motorcycles, two bicycles,  four machine gun mounts,  power generating set, three Armoured Personnel Carriers  (APC) tyres, 10 bags of assorted foodstuff, four different vehicles radiators,  a wheel chair, two  clutches,  stretcher and 11 different car batteries.

Other items recovered included  three gas cylinders,  two stabiliser, a welding machine,  three motorcycle batteries and  four gallons stuffed with grains.
He said the troops also recovered a Toyota buffalo engine,  Toyota Hilux engine,  blanket, megaphone,  Escola’s Box, four  motorcycle  wheels, a  grinding machine,  a vehicle gear box,  damaged part of a canter truck, military uniforms, an unserviceable laptop, two Wheel barrows and three vehicle Jacks.

Similarly, he said,  the patrol team  recovered  three rounds of  7.62mm ammunition, 31  IEDs primers, two  flash drives containing vital information, surgical gloves and urine bags. Other items recovered include bandages, two tyre pumps, .50 inch  browning machine gun parts, as well as a 60mm mortar bomb, sphygmomanometer, anti-Tetanus injection, penicillin injections and other medications and medical equipment. They also recovered a trailer truck, damaged vehicle,  two slates, Holy Qur’an, handcuffs and solar panels among other items.
“The team has  followed the  blood trail left by the insurgents and exploiting further to dominate  the general area with patrols to further secure it,” he stated.

In a related development, Usman said that the troops involved in the clearance and rescue operations  in Sambisa forest nicknamed “Operation Crackdown”, were able to halt attacks by the terrorists, while on harbour.

According to him, the terrorists who came in five Toyota Hilux vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns which they fired along with 81mm mortar.
He said: “The battle ready troops rose to the occasion and repelled the attack and pursued the terrorists that withdrew in disarray towards the river line of Izza-Mainyakare axis.
“The attack lasted for about 40 minutes without any casualty on our troops  while an unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists were killed. The troops recovered an 81mm mortar tube from the terrorists.”

“The troops maintain highest level alertness and vigilance  at the harbour area.  They will further exploit and continue with the clearance operation,” he stated.
Usman also stated that the troops of 7 Division, based on information received, conducted  a special operation at Chingurimi, Walasa and Masa villages  which were believed to have large  concentration of abducted  women and children held hostages by the Boko Haram terrorists
“The troops killed quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists and rescued 17 women, an old man and 24 children at the area. They also recovered an AK-47 rifle, six rounds of  7.62mm, 295 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 12 Dane Guns, 21 unserviceable mobile telephone handsets and one serviceable as well as150 different SIM cards,” he said.

In all, he said,  the troops rescued over 400 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.
In the same vein, Usman said that troops of 120 Task Force Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade, yesterday,  in conjunction with vigilantes while on patrol, intercepted five Boko Haram terrorists logistics team at Gotumba area  trying to move logistics items to suspected Boko Haram hideouts at Aluwa, using 5 donkeys.

He said that the terrorists, on sighting the  patrol team, ran and abandoned the  items. However, he stated that the team pursued and killed three of the terrorists, while two escaped with gun shot wounds.

items recovered from the encounter to include three packets of Tramol, two packets of Lamumol, seven  packets of Really Extra, two packets of Viagra, two  packets of Ulgra and 14 of washing soap.

“Other items include four  rolls of Klin Detergent,  two packets razor blade and  14 packets of Maggi. Half-bag of table salt, five bicycle tyres and  tubes, as well as  two quick patch for tubes, a roll of matches and 10 pairs of rubber shoes. The troops also recovered large quantity of potash, onions, locust beans, some quantity of rice, mats and tarpaulin,” he disclosed.

In addition,  Usman said that the troops of 7 Division Garrison today in conjunction Civilian JTF, acting on a tip off, arrested one Alhaji Bulama Budu at Old Maiduguri general area.
He said that preliminary investigation showed that Budu, who hailed from Aiwa village, Mafa Local Government Area (LGA),  was one of the Boko Haram terrorists detained at Giwa Barracks   before he escaped when his colleagues, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the facility and released all the insurgents in March 2014.