BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Nigerian Army said its troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed many Boko Haram terrorists and captured 167 of the insurgents that were fleeing from military offensive.
It said the success followed intensified offensive on Boko Haram enclaves in the Islands around the Lake Chad region.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu said the offensive, which is yielding positive results, commenced about two weeks ago with coordinated air and artillery bombardments on Boko Haram enclaves while ground troops moved in to clear the areas.
Nwachukwu further said; “Troops also extricated and profiled 67 women and 173 children who revealed during profiling exercise that they are family members of insurgents who fled, following troops’ offensive.
He said arrangement is ongoing to hand them over to IDP camp authorities after preliminary investigations are concluded.
The Army deputy spokesman also said in the last two months, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole sustained on-going precursor operations and have conducted long range fighting patrols and ambushes seeking out and clearing Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts in Saada and Juwei in the fringes of northern Borno.
Nwachukwu said that during the operations, troops intercepted and arrested 53 fleeing insurgents, who have been profiled and are currently helping with investigations.
He further said; “Fifteen insurgents have also willingly abandoned the insurgent group, describing it as a futile struggle and have surrendered to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole within the period.
“Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go to families and relations of troops as well as civilians, who paid the supreme price in the encounters and callous suicide bomb and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks by the terrorists.
“While troops continue relentlessly in the ongoing offensive to decisively rid the north east hinterlands of insurgents, members of the public are implored to be more security conscious and vigilant in their homes, communities, places of worship, markets and other places of business to identify strange persons as well as any suspicious activity and promptly report same to security agencies.
“They are also urged to remember to “Say something, if you see something.”
