Nigerian Troops Inside Sambisa Forest, Kill over 18 Terrorists

Repel Boko Haram ambush, clear more camps

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

Nigerian troops engaged in the ongoing ‘Operation Crackdown,’ have intensified their offensive deep inside the Sambisa Forest to rout the remaining Boko Haram enclaves.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops of 21 Brigade, 7 Division, had sustained their offensive operations against the terrorists still hiding in the infamous forest.

Usman said the troops on Sunday, cleared four villages in the terrorists’ enclave which included Bala Karege, Goske, Harda and the famous Markas 3.

He disclosed that there was no encounter with the terrorists in all the villages as they seem to have abandoned their huts and ran away.

Unfortunately, he said the troops ran into an ambush at Harda village, while advancing.
“The resilient troops successfully cleared the ambush without any casualty and proceeded with the operations,” he stated.

The army spokesman said the formation recovered suicide vests and quite a number of high calibre weapons which included a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 18 rounds of 23mm Shilka ammunition, barrel of AK-47 rifle, extra-barrel of General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK-47 rifle magazines, metal link of 12.7mm ammunition and a heavy-duty solar panel battery.

He said the troops also recovered 10 vehicles and 50 motorcycles belonging to the fleeing terrorists.
In a related development, Usman said terrorists from another part of Sambisa forest, were reported to have taken advantage of the heavy downpour that occurred to move closer to the troops.

“However, the troops were very vigilant as they decisively and successfully dealt with the intruders. So far, two vehicles were recovered from Boko Haram terrorists and over eight Boko Haram terrorists bodies were counted before nightfall.

Usman also noted the possibility of recovering more by day break, by “exploiting aftermath of the attack by Boko Haram terrorists on their location last night the Sambisa forest despite the unfriendly weather.”
He said eight more Boko Haram terrorists dead bodies were found yesterday morning in addition to other recoveries made on Sunday night.

In addition, the DAPR military and Civilian JTF were informed of the presence of three Boko Haram terrorists who went to Puchi village to tax the community.

“On arrival, they found out that the residents had apprehended two of the terrorists and lynched them, while the third one narrowly escaped according to reports,” he said.

According to him, the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, a rifle magazine and eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a Dane gun.