By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The military said it was on hot chase of 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 of the capital of the North east state, they have
laid ambush which caught the terrorist group in crossfire.
The statement issued by Lt. Njoka Irabor, the Acting Assistant Director Army Public
Relations, Sector 2 of the military counter insurgency operation in the Northeast
(Operation Lafiya Dole), claimed many of the insurgents were killed in the
attempted invasion of Damaturu.
The statement 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 (BHTs), that attempted to attack Damaturu, Yobe State at about
5:15 pm, today (Tuesday), the 9th of April 2019.”>
The statement added: “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 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.