From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri and MOLLY KILETE, Abuja

 

The Nigerian Army yesterday said 37 Boko Haram members died during a coordinated raid and air strike by its troops and Nigeria Air Force on camp located in the eastern part of Borno. This is coming at a time when the army has commenced aggressive patrols of all highways in the North-East part of the country to stop the Boko Haram from attacking and killing innocent travellers.On the killing of Boko Haram members, the army said it got intelligence report about the hideout of the group at Alagarno, around Konduga-Damboa area and subsequently launched a fierce attack, with the collaboration of the men of the Nigerian Air Force from the 79 Composite Group on Monday, killing at least 37 of the sect members.

“Based on available intelligence, troops of the 7 Division of Nigerian Army launched an attack on Boko Haram camp located in Alagarno. The operation, which commenced on Monday 21, 2013, involved a coordinated ground and air assault by troops of 7 Division, in conjunction with 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Maiduguri, which destroyed the terrorists’ camp. A total of 37 terrorists were killed in the firefight, while several others fled with gunshot wounds,” acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations (DDAPR) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Captain Aliyu Danja, disclosed through a statement yesterday.

He said some arms and ammunition were recovered after the operation, while three Hilux vehicles and many motorcycles, believed to be owned by the terrorists were destroyed by the military troops.

Also, in his first official reaction to the Sunday twin attacks on travellers and youth volunteers, he said the insurgents, numbering about 50 and armed with AK47 rifles blocked a major road in the early morning of Sunday, killing four civilians, though survivors stated that about 20 people were killed by the Boko Haram.

“In the early hours of Sunday, 20 October, 2013, Boko Haram terrorists numbering about 50, armed with AK47 rifles and rocket propelled guns, blocked road (Gambor/Ngala-Dikwa at Logomari village, killing four civilians and snatched an Isuzu pickup vehicle loaded with provisions. Terrorists fled the scene on arrival of troops of 7 Division,” Danja stated.

He said the insurgents also attacked members of the Youth Vigilance Group, “who were returning from a funeral,” adding that three of the youth vigilante were killed. He also said the vehicle of the vigilante was set ablaze by the insurgents.

“The youth vigilante, who escaped however, reinforced, pursued the terrorists and destroyed their hideout, killing several terrorists, while others escaped. Troops of the 7 Division are however, currently conducting aggressive patrols within the area to trace and destroy Boko Haram elements,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the army yesterday said it has commenced aggressive patrols of all highways in the North East part of the country to stop the Boko Haram terrorist group from attacking and killing innocent travelers.

For sometime now, terrorists have taken over some major routes in the North East, attacking, maiming and killing innocent travelers on that road.

There has been reported cases of Boko Haram members slaughtering innocent travellers, setting their vehicles ablaze and robbing their victims of their valuables.

Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru, said Boko Haram killings on the highways would soon come to an end, as troops from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army have fully taken charge of the situation.

He said an attempt by the group to attack Gamborou-Ngala village on October, 19, using propelled grenades and AK47, rifles was foiled by soldiers who promptly engaged them and killed a good number, while others escaped into Fotokol, in Cameroun.

Gen. Attahiru, while noting that a Special Operation Battallion (SOB), has been establishment to counter terrorists who have resorted to the killing of innocent travellers, talked of how men if the SOB killed five members of the terrorists group who mounted a snap road block along Dikwa-Gaboru Ngala axis killing four persons and injuring two others and seized the vehicle conveying food stuff.

-Sun