The Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday said that its troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE killed 25 Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the last one week while destroying their logistics facilities and command structures in Northeast region of Nigeria.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters Abuja, Major General John Enenche, also said that 15 bandits were killed in the Northwest region and their camps destroyed.
General Enenche noted that while ground “troops successfully conducted aggressive clearance operations and dominate the theatres of operation,” the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted comprehensive precision strikes, to mark the launching of its subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM.
According to him, “several air interdiction operations were conducted at identified Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State. These attacks were conducted at Tumbuma Baba, on 16 August 2020, one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad.
“Additionally, the logistics facilities of BHT at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad were also destroyed on 17 August 2020. The attack on the locations scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing not fewer than 20 terrorists and destroying their structures. Several BHT and ISWAP commanders were also killed and some of their dwellings destroyed at Boboshe, a village along the river line on the eastern part of the Sambisa Forest.
“Meanwhile, troops of Army Super Camp 9, on 16 August 2020, engaged BHTs and ISWAP elements during clearance operations at Dikwa LGA of Borno State. During the operation, 2 terrorists were neutralized while one AK 47 rifle and 8 rounds of 7.62mm (special) were recovered. Similarly, troops of Strong Response Area, Pulka while on a fighting patrol, encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements along Road Pulka-Firgi-Banki Junction in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
“In the process, a terrorist was neutralized while 2 fully loaded AK 47 rifles, two 36 hand grenades, one motorcycle and IED materials were recovered by the troops. Similarly, troops of 144 Battalion on ambush operation encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements at Wagga Mangoro and Wagga Lawal in the same LGA. The terrorists fled due to superior fire power of the troops. In another encounter troops of 151 Task Force Battalion neutralized 2 terrorists along Road Banki-Pulka in Bama LGA of Borno State.”
Enenche said that in the Northwest region, “in a combined special clearance operation, troops of operation SAHEL SANITY destroyed 12 bandit camps at Yobe Baranda in Batsari LGA of Katsina State. Three armed bandits were also neutralized in the process while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Equally, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY deployed at Forward Operating Base Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State on 15 August 2020 after an undercover operation successfully smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate who specialize in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders.
“The three suspects all Nigerien citizens were intercepted at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State with 6 AK 47 Rifles, 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition concealed in various parts of their vehicle. It therefore goes to show that some of the security challenges in the country have external influence. The suspects are currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigation before being handed over to the prosecuting agency.”
He noted that the “successes” recorded in the region has resulted in the return of farming, social and economic activities in the zone.
The Armed Forces Spokesperson said that in the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER “deactivated” an illegal refining site at Okorosa Creek with “an estimated 943.47 barrels of product suspected to be crude oil.”
He noted that while the deactivated site at Yalama community in Akokoturo LGA Rivers State contained “two metal reservoirs laden with an estimated 150,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.”
In addition, the deactivated Illegal Refining Site around Fonkro Community had six ovens, seven surface metal storage tanks and three dugout pits with “about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO and 566.08 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.”
In the Northcentral zone, General Enenche stated that “troops have continued to sustain intensive clearance operations which have yielded remarkable successes. Within the period under review, troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN, THUNDER-STRIKE AND WHIRL STROKE conducted several ambushes, raids and clearance patrols at various locations in the zone.”