The military said it was chasing after a group of Boko Haram insurgents that attempted attacking Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Tuesday.
The military in a statement on Tuesday night, said following a tip-off of the insurgents’ planned attack on the capital of the northeast state, they ambushed the terrorist group.
The statement issued by Lt. Njoka Irabor, the Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Sector 2 of the military counter insurgency operation in the North east (Operation Lafiya Dole), claimed many of the insurgents were killed in the attempted invasion of Damaturu.
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The statement partly read, “Following credible information of planned efforts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack Damaturu, troops of Sector 2, Operation Lafiya Dole, successfully laid an ambush which led to the extermination of many Boko Haram Terrorists, that attempted to attack Damaturu, Yobe State at about 5:15 pm, today (Tuesday), the 9th of April 2019.
“The vigilant troops effectively ambushed the criminals few metres ahead of Maisandari community at the outskirts of the city of Damaturu.
“The terrorists were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the gallant troops and the well coordinated air support, from the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole.
“Consequently, many terrorists met their Waterloo, some were also wounded.”
The statement said items recovered from the group include two gun trucks, two anti-aircraft guns, a 60-millimetre mortar, four AK 47 rifles, a general purpose machine gun and 1,245 rounds of 7.62 mm (NATO).
Irabor revealed that the troops have embarked on a hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, and has commenced the “mop up/combing of the general area.”
He promised to provide further details and possible recoveries after the mop up operations would have been concluded.
