By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri
Troops of Operation Fire Ball, a special operation in the war on terror in the Northeast, have neutralised 22 Boko Haram insurgents during a clearance operation in Borno State.
The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this to journalists at the Army Special Super Camp 1 Ngamdu, near Borno State on Tuesday.
He said the 22 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists were neutralized while one terrorists Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert was captured alive during an encounter.
He added that the operation targeted to clear terrorists from their hideouts and enclave recorded successes. He said two women and three children were rescued.
The defence spokesman explained that large cache of weapons such as four Gun Trucks, one fabricated vehicle Blinde Leger, two Anti Aircraft Guns, one General Purpose Machine Gun, two PKT Guns and eight AK 47 Rifles were captured.
Others, he said, include two AK 47 Rifle Magazines, one AK 47 Rifle Cover and one Dane Gun. He also said the large cache of ammunition including 18 rounds of 51mm, 4 rounds of Brownie Machine Gun ammunition, one Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, One 36 Hand Grenade, 23 belted rounds of 7.62 were seized from the terrorists during the operation.
While assuring the residents of its determination to flush out the remnants of the terrorists, the Army said six soldiers injured in action have been evacuated for treatment at a military medical facility and are currently responding positively to treatment.
He further assured the people of the Northeast of the Nigerian military high commands determination to finally rout the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists from their high out, while soliciting for the cooperation and support of the media for the success of the counter-insurgency operation.
