Troops overrun terrorists in Lake Chad after battle

Nigerian Army troops in conjunction with hybrid force and element of Civilian Joint Task Force

successfully overran Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ stronghold in Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region.

Director Army Public Relations, Major General
Onyema Nwachukwu who confirmed this on Friday in a statement, said the gallant troops neutralized three terrorists in the coordinated attack.

He said a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and a cache of arms and ammunition, after a fierce battle with the insurgents in an offensive operation conducted on Wednesday 28 February.

The Army spokesman said insurgents attacked own troops with Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), Mortar, Gun trucks and motorbikes, but fell under the overwhelming superior fire power of the troops, forcing them to abandon their stronghold, armaments and equipment in disarray in the operation.

The operation, according to Major General Onyema, proved to be a major setback to the insurgents, while one MRAP, one gun truck, one Dushka Machine Gun, a AK 47 Rifle and one locally fabricated gun were recovered.

He noted that troops also captured one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 273 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one Pumping machine, 65 Dushka links, 48 General Purpose Machine Gun links and three motorbikes.

He further assured that the gallant troops are presently exploiting their success in pursuit of the routed insurgents.

Similarly troops of the Nigerian Army conducted a fighting patrol to criminals’ hideouts in Katakpa Village inToto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

During the separate operation, troops neutralized one of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one Pump Action semi- automatic rifle, three AK-47 magazines and 90 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition.
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The spokesman.said the Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops for the successful operations and charged them to remain resilient and sustain the momentum of the operations.