* Just as troops attack their strongholds including spiritual base
The Military High Command said on Thursday that troops have consistently struck the strongholds of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) through out the theatre of operation in last two weeks.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko disclosed this in Abuja during a media briefing on the activities of the military aimed at bringing to an end the insurgency in the country.
He said that troops and Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI recorded some feats at Bula Village in Yobe State and Banki Town in Borno State on June 27 and 28 2021 when troops repelled terrorists’ attacks.
“Troops also conducted offensive deep penetration operations into villages of the Timbuktu Triangle within the period,” adding that during the offensives, ‘several terrorists were killed and many equipment and weapons were captured.”
According to the military spokesman,” a total of 73 BHT were killed with 44 AK 47 rifles, 2 PKT, 7 Ant Aircraft guns, 7 gun trucks, several ammunition of different calibre were recovered.”
Other items recovered were “weapon cleaning materials, clothing, blankets, foodstuffs, vehicles, generators, IED materials, religious scripts” were also recovered in the process.
General Onyeuko said that in a related development on June 27, a total of 55 escapees from terrorists’ camps comprising 15 adult males, 12 adult females and 27 children surrendered to own troops at Darajemel in Borno State.
He said that another feat was achieved on June 27 2021, when the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, in coordinated multiple airstrikes, destroyed some terrorists’ commander’s strongholds at the Lake Chad axis of Borno State.
“The air strikes were targeted at various terrorists’ camps in Sabon Tumbu, Jibularam and Kwalaram Towns in the State,” he said.
“During the air operations, the spiritual base and training camps of the terrorists in the North East part of Borno State and the fringes of Lake Chad were destroyed by air bombardments.”
He said the bombardments were carried out on the heels of credible intelligence report which revealed that, some top ISWAP/BHT commanders were holding a meeting at the said locations.
General Onyeuko said that on it part the activities of troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN between June 18 and 30, 2021 were characterized with both kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
Within the period, troops simultaneously conducted series of clearance, ambush and raid operations in different locations of the Zone. Additionally, troops engaged in fighting patrols and responded to distress calls as well as carried out extensive air operations, he said.
They also engaged in non-kinetic operations by holding peace and security meetings with various community and youth leaders as well as other stakeholders.
These operations were executed against bandits and other criminal elements’ enclaves in communities at Jos South LGA and Gidan Daabat along Lafia – Shendam Road in Plateau State.
Other were conducted at Kadunu Forest, Kasai and Naphan villages in Barkin Ladi LGA, as well as Barkin Kaya in Wase LGA of Plateau State.
In the course of the operations, troops neutralized scores of armed bandits and armed herdsmen, arrested or apprehended bandits’ informants, gunrunners, political thugs and kidnappers.
Troops also rescued kidnap victims as well as recovered hoards of livestock and assorted arms and ammunition within the period.