Nigerian troops conducting Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East have inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in an ambush in Pulka general area, the Nigerian Army has disclosed.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Wednesday, said the operation was conducted by troops deployed at 192 Battalion Forward Operations Base (FOB) on Wednesday.
Nwachukwu said the operation was intelligence-driven conducted with precision in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local vigilantes.
He said that four terrorists were neutralised during the encounter while a large cache of arms were recovered.
According to him, the fierce encounter occurred in Rengye, an area suspected to be the terrorists’ crossing point.
‘Aside the neutralised terrorists, several others escaped with injuries, leaving traces of blood behind, as they fled in disarray.
‘The gallant troops recovered two AK 47 rifles, three AK 47 rifle magazines, one 36 Energa Hand Grenade and oneTear gas cannister from the terrorists.
‘While commending the troops for their resilience and renewed doggedness, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, charged them to continue to dominate the area by denying the criminals freedom of action,’ he said.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum had last week led some Nigerian refugees to undertake clearance exercise in Malam-Fatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area in northern Borno.
Malam-Fatori, located in the fringes of Lake Chad, was violently occupied by Boko Haram for about six years before the military took control.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
