By Tosin Olatokunbo
Defence Headquarter has disclosed that troops killed dozens of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP fighters along the Lake Chad area, very close to Mungonu where Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, NSA Babagan Mungonu hails from.. The successful operation was conducted by soldiers of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole, in Borno state, according to DHQ, which also said some soldiers lost their lives during the gun duel with the terrorists.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said some “elements of Boko Haram Terrorists and their Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) counterparts operating along the fringes of the Lake Chad and the Tumbus met their waterloo when they encountered dogged troops of Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE on Saturday, 13 March, 2021.
He said the troops were on the regular mission of clearing some villages occupied by the insurgents when the they ran into their convoy along the Kukawa Mungonu road, where they dealt them a serious blow leading to the death of the Islamists.
According to the statement “The combined troops of the Sector which were on clearance patrol along the fringes of the Lake Chad had advanced and cleared Daban Massara and Ali Sherifti villages among other settlements before they harbored for replenishment and retrofitting. However, as they commenced the second phase of their operations and advancing along the Kukawa – Monguno road, about 14 kilometers to their base, they sighted BHTs/ISWAP gun trucks and swiftly commenced pursuit with heavy fire and deft manouver.
“In the course of the hot pursuit which was aided by air cover provided by the Air Task Team of Operation Lafia Dole, several terrorists were neutralized and their gun trucks destroyed. Unfortunately however, 1 officer and 3 gallant soldiers paid the Supreme sacrifices while those wounded in action are currently receiving medical attention at 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment.
“Above is on-the-spot account of the encounter between Nigerian troops and the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Mugono area and environ. Members of the public are assured that the troops are on top of the situation and working assiduously to end the insurgency and terrorism in country in line with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff”.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has assured Nigerians that the federal government was poised to end insurgency in the country. Attahiru who was recently promoted to his new rank said this during a morale boosting visit to troops in Yobe state last week
“We have come to Yobe State to the sector headquarters to meet you, to get to know you and you get to know us as well. We promised ending this issue of Boko Haram,” he said.
