- Clears five communities of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Marte, Borno State
The Nigerian Army has has confirmed the recovery the corpses of four soldiers killed by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Eastern Security Network (ESN) militia members in Orlu, Imo State.
Also, the Army says it has recovered the military vehicle that was damaged during the attack.
This is just as Nigerian Troops have cleared members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists from five communities in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, on Sunday, had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the troops to clear terrorists from Marte and adjoining communities in Borno State.
Nigerian troops had on Monday arrested 20 members of the proscribed IPOB after they allegedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Orlu.
The Nigerian troops in a joint operation involving the Army, Air Force and the Police sustained raid operation in the axis, after the killing of four soldiers on escort duties in the area by IPOB elements.
The IPOB militia members had ambushed and killed the soldiers who were on the escort of the Director Civil Affairs, Brigadier General HE Nzan and his team, on inspection of the Civil-Military Project at Nkwerre. They also took away weapons and a vehicle belonging to the troops.
On the Marte operations, sources said that troops of Sector 1, supported by Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole successfully cleared the terrorists from New Marte, Kironewa, Chukun Gudu, Duma Kura and Duma Gana apart from other villages on the routes.
The source said that “Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), planted on the roads by the insurgents against the advancing troops were equally destroyed as NAF aircraft continue to provide close air and interdiction support to the ground forces.“
Major General Abdul Khalifa, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, lauded the ground troops and air components for the wonderful feats.
Khalifa said “Yesterday, we recaptured Marte after eliminating dozens of terrorists with a very minimal casualty on our part. The operation was successfully conducted with effective synergy and aggressive joint operation of the ground troops and Air Task Force working with credible intelligence.”