Military destroy terrorists’ camps, rescue kidnapped victims

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) took the war against insurgents to their camp, gaining lost grounds over the insurgents.

In a statement by the Chief of Military Public Information, Colonel Muhammad Dole, the military said they were able to destroy some of the insurgents’ camps while also rescuing some kidnapped victims

“Steadily advancing in different corridors of the theatre towards identified enclaves, the dogged troops operating under the shared aspiration of the MNJTF made gradual but unprecedented incursions into the insurgents’ dens. “Some of the areas cleared include Zanari, Arina Woje, which served as a major fabrication workshop, Asagar, Larki and Garere. Other areas cleared include Kerenoa, Wurje, Arege, Abadam, Doron Lelewa, Kolaram and several other locations around the Islands.

“Within the period of this operation, well over a 100 terrorists have been neutralised, including over 10 top commanders, following intelligence driven lethal air strikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined Air Taskforces. “Some of the commanders include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla among others. Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres were either destroyed or captured, including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, other terrorists’ equipment, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) making factories and bunkers were destroyed.

“In the course of the operation, significant number of innocent citizens mostly women and children held captive by the criminals were rescued. Large quantity of food stuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists’ uniforms and other household materials were recovered and destroyed immediately.

“Recent activities of the operations include a clearance patrol to Fedondiya settlement where logistics and foodstuffs including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, some immobilized and cannibalized military and civil vehicles, were discovered.

“Others include grinding machines; other vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms were all destroyed and set ablaze in the location. It is obviously a big Boko Haram /ISWAP camp having another large IED making and vehicle borne IED making factory that was cleverly camouflaged to prevent detection from the air.

“In a related development, the MNJTF troops on clearance patrols in the general areas of Kimeguna near the Lake Chad in Niger Republic accosted BHT/ISWAP logisticians ferrying 457 bags of fish in several carts. The bags of fish were immediately destroyed in line with the MNJTF Standing Operating Procedure, while the suspects are being profiled.

“The obviously frustrated criminals, BHT/ISWAP have resorted to indiscriminate laying of IEDs and use of Vehicle Borne Explosive Devices attacks.

“One pattern noticed in the operation is that the criminals hastily withdraw and avoid making contact with the approaching troops.

“They instead rely on suicide vehicle borne attacks. About four different such attacks have so far targeted the determined troops who have not been deterred. Sadly, 18 soldiers, including an officer have been wounded in these attacks and have been evacuated to various military medical facilities for treatment while three soldiers and one member of the CJTF paid the supreme sacrifice.

“Despite the obvious challenges of difficult terrain, IED threats and sundry challenges, especially in this religious season, the troops continue to maintain the momentum, remaining focused and determined to pursue and decimate the fleeing terrorists, wherever they go in the Lake Chad islands,” the statement read.