Troops clear more Boko Haram enclaves

MAIDUGURI—Determined to ensure that all remaining camps belonging to Boko Haram terrorists group are cleared by end of December this year, troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade, following a tip off have flushed out camps located along the Sabon Gari and Damboa axis in Borno State.

Boko Haram

The development occurred Sunday night just as one of three teenage suicide bombers aged between 10 and 15 years blew himself up as the Civilian JTF was in the process of screening the suspect resulting in the death of nine people while 24 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Giving details of both incidents, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman said: “As part of the determined efforts to rid the society of all known Boko Haram terrorists enclaves and hideouts, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade based on tip off conducted a fighting patrol along Damboa-Njaba-Bale Road in Borno State.

“The troops encountered and killed 3 suspected Boko Haram terrorists that had been terrorizing the communities around Sabon Gari and Damboa.

“Among those killed was the Boko Haram terrorists Ameer (Leader) in Bulayaga. The Ameer was notorious in terrorizing Bale, Wass and Mufurundi villages.

“The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle with its magazine, 43 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 grinding machine and five dane guns. Other items recovered include seven motorcycles, 21 bags of grains and two Boko Haram terrorists flags hoisted.

“In a related development today, troops of 7 Division Garrison on patrol at Mainari village in Mafa Local Government Area had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists.

“The encounter led to the killing of nine terrorists and recovery of  weapons which include four AK-47 and one  Pump Action gun. The patrol teams have continued to dominate the respective areas.

On the suicide bomb attack, Usman said, “Today (Sunday) evening at about 8.30pm, three suspected suicide bombers ranging from 10 to 15 years went into Benisheikh, Borno State.

“They were spotted by ever vigilant Borno State Youth Empowerment Scheme (Civilian JTF) who suspected something fishy about them. Indeed, one of them was laden with Improvised Explosive Device, IED.”

“While the Civilian JTF was in the process of screening the suspect following the necessary drills and precautions, the carrier detonated the IED,  that led to the death of 9 people while 24 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The security and emergency management agents have mobilized to the scene. The bodies have been evacuated and all those injured are receiving medical attention.

“The security agencies have intensified patrols and security checks in the area.

“While we condemn this dastardly act and commiserate with the families of these that lost their lives and the injured, it is pertinent to reiterate the need for more security consciousness and vigilance by all especially during the yuletide and New Year holidays.”

Meanwhile, the Defence headquarters yesterday disclosed that Boko Haram terrorists have devised new strategies with which they intend to achieve their dastardly aim this yuletide warning that Nigerians should be vigilant.

Giving details of the new strategies, Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said, “It has come to the knowledge of the Defence Headquarters that Boko Haram terrorists have now devised other means of inflicting harm on innocent citizens to further their terrorist cause.

“Some of such tactics they now use include crying and feigning pains and shouting to attract sympathy from unsuspecting public.

“When a lot of people of goodwill gather to render help in the process, the suicide bomber detonates bombs which they conceal under their clothes.

“The recent suicide bombing in Damaturu is instructive.

“Similarly, suicide bombers used monetary incentives and other inducements especially in crowded places to lure innocent citizens in order to cause colossal damage to both lives and property.

“Yola suicide incident is fresh in our memory.

“The Defence Headquarters therefore advises citizens to be wary of such antics of the terrorists who are losing out in their former enclaves and are now desperate to remain relevant by using any means to perpetuate fear in the minds of the populace.

“The Defence Headquarters also warns citizens to be extra vigilant and weary of terrorist malevolence in such places as parks, worship centers and recreation spots particularly in this festive period.

“Citizens are advised to report suspicious persons or objects to security agencies for prompt action.”

Troops clear more Boko Haram enclaves

Troops arrest another terrorist kingpin in Borno

The Nigerian Army on Monday said it had arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu area of Maiduguri.

Minmah, Soldier

Col. Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

“Troops of 7 Division Garrison Nigerian Army in Operation Lafiya Dole, made a remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram Terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Toyota Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” he said.

“The Theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious.

Gusau said that troops of the 21 Brigade of the army had also discovered and IED making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town in Borno.

He said, “In a related development, troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists’ locations, with the support from the Nigerian Air Force, discovered and destroyed the terrorists IEDs and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno.

“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles, locally made rocket shells and large quantity of assorted chemicals.

“Others are; unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from school laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area.”

Troops arrest another terrorist kingpin in Borno

Nigerian Army destroys Boko Haram fuel dump

Troops of 3rd Division of Nigerian Army on Wednesday swooped over and dismantled a Boko Haram fuel dump located at Ladu Dumbawa ward, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, Colonel Sani Usman, spokesperson of the Army said in a statement released on Thursday.

Boko Haram fuel dump

According to Usman the troops were led to the depot three out of the seven persons who have been kidnapped earlier from Gabajere village and taken to the same location by some members of Boko Haram.

Usman said, “It would be recalled that suspected Boko Haram terrorists had abducted seven persons in Gajabere and took them to the same location.

“Those kidnapped were three local wards heads known as “Lawani” and their deputies, as well as the Chief Imam of the town. However, through sheer guts and bravery, 3 of them escaped and reported the matter to the security which led to the rescue of the rest and discovery of the well concealed terrorists fuel depot which was also destroyed by troops”.`

In the same vein, the spokesman also informed that troops have further blocked the terrorists supply route that led to Babangida in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State where they mostly get the supplies while they are intensifying efforts to identify and neutralise all Boko Haram logistic bases to further constrict the terrorists and hasten their total defeat.

He further appealed to citizens are please requested to furnish the military and security agencies with information on all known terrorists’ location, routes, suppliers of fuel, food, clothing and any good or service to the terrorists.

Nigerian Army destroys Boko Haram fuel dump

[Photos] Nigerian soldiers kill 20 Boko Haram in Faljari

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 20 terrorists at Faljari, along the Dikwa-Maiduguri Road, the Army has said.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who made the comment in an electronic mail on Sunday, said the troops also destroyed the camps of the insurgents at Faljari village along Dikwa-Maiduguri road, Borno State on Sunday.

He said Faljari was used by the insurgents as one of their logistic bases in the face-off with the troops.

According to him, “Five vehicles heavily laden with Improvised Explosives Devices about to be unleashed into the society, four motorcycles, one Toyota Hilux mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns, one Anti-Aircraft Gun and one General Purpose Machine Gun, three extra Barrels of Anti-Aircraft Gun, a box of Anti-Aircraft Gun Ammunition, 3 SIM cards and a damaged AK-47 Rifle” were recovered from the insurgents.

Usman said the troops also destroyed five motorcycles decorated with terrorists’ flags and a Toyota Hilux vehicle mounted with Anti-Aircraft gun during the raid.

He said the troops detonated and traced an IED with wires connected to the residence of a terrorist commander in the village.

The Army Acting Spokesman said the insurgents had been occupying portions of Gamboru Ngala, Kala Balge, Guzamala and Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State while the headquarters of Guijba Local Government of Yobe State was long deserted.

He added that the troops also cleared towns and roads that were held by the terrorists and laced with mines such as Biu-Buni Yadi-Damaturu and Biu-Sabon Gari-Damboa roads and made them safe for pubic usage.

He said that the troops and indeed the Nigerian Army would not rest until every portion of the Nigerian soil was liberated from the control of the insurgents.

The military had dislodged the terrorist from Dikwa during a combined operation which involved the fighter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force and ground forces on Friday morning.

[Photos] Nigerian soldiers kill 20 Boko Haram in Faljari

Burutai warns troops against cowardice, indiscipline

The new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai, has warned troops against acts of indiscipline and cowardice in the ongoing campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

Buratai also urged the commanders to ensure a prompt  and timely response to distress calls from communities in the besieged areas.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Monday that the COAS made the comment during a visit to troops of 103 Battalion Nigerian Army, Konduga, Borno State,  on Sunday.

Usman said that the Army Chief also renamed the military operation in the North East from Operation Zaman Lafiya to Operation Lafiya Dole as part of the efforts intensify the onslaught against the insurgents in the area.

He said that the change of name was to send out a strong message to the insurgents that they would not be allowed to perpetrate their heinous crimes in the region.

According to him, Buratai used the opportunity of his visit to assure the troops of the Federal Government’s commitment to the provision of necessary equipment for the fight against the insurgency.

Buratai who briefed the troops about his vision for the Army and resolve to end the insurgency commended them for their resilience and bravery.

Burutai warns troops against cowardice, indiscipline

Update: How mastermind of Jos, zaria bomber was arrested - Military

The Nigerian military has explained how the suspected mastermind of the Jos and Zaria bombings was arrested.

The defence headquarters had earlier tweeted that the unnamed suspect was taken into custody in Gombe after organising the two attacks that killed 70 people between Sunday and Tuesday.

Minmah, Soldier

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, has given further details on the arrest:

“Please recall that on Sunday 5th July 2015, suspected Boko Haram terrorists carried out coordinated bomb and gun attacks on worshippers at Ýan Taya mosque, Dillimi Street, off Bauchi Road, Jos where the holy month of Ramadan tafsir was holding, and Shagalinku Restaurant, along Bauchi Road, Jos, Plateau State which led to death of over 48 persons, injuring several other persons and destruction of property.

“Similarly, the terrorists carried out another bomb attack on hapless workers undergoing verification exercise at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat, Zaria Kaduna State which resulted in the death of over 25 people including a two-year-old child and destruction of property.

“Consequently, security cordon was established in the general areas especially along Bauchi, Gombe and the North Eastern part of the country by troops of 3 Division and Special Task Force, as well as the Department of State Services. This culminated in the successful arrest of the mastermind of the heinous terrorist acts and two of his accomplices at a checkpoint in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State. The terrorist kingpin and his colleagues who disguised in a trailer while trying to evade checks were fished out by troops of Nigerian Army.

“The arrested terrorists are currently being processed for further action and would soon face the full wrath of the law.

“The general public are hereby please requested to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious persons, movements, and facilities to the security agencies.”

Update: How mastermind of Jos, zaria bomber was arrested - Military

BBOG demands number of fallen troops, terrorists

The #BringBackOurGirls group has demanded for what it called a mid-term report of the six-weeks military operations against Boko Haram insurgents in north-east.

It asked the military authorities to publish number of terrorists killed, number of those captured alive, number of fallen troops and those injured.

The group at its sitout on Sunday in Abuja, also demanded for names of all liberated towns, villages and local governments, as well as the communities that residents could return to and those that are safe for habitation.

The movement in a statement said it looked forward to the victory of the military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, noting that it was hopeful that the military would succeed in bringing back the Chibok school girls.

The statement read in part, “Can the Federal Government and the military high command provide a comprehensive mid-term report of the six-weeks operation that details the following: number and names of all liberated towns, villages and local governments.

“What communities precisely have been liberated, and the names; Liberated territories that residents are able to return to as well as those that are not safe for habitation. Number and names of territories that are yet to be liberated.

“The number of terrorists killed; number of terrorists captured alive; number of our fallen troops and those injured; the status of our regional and collaborations. Can there be more audio-visuals of the progress at the war front?”

The group asked the Federal Government to respond to the perception that it may have mismanaged the support that several countries like the United Kingdom and the United States offered at the beginning of the search to rescue the Chibok girls in May,2014.

The BBOG also challenged the British Government and other countries which offered support to the FG to demonstrate a minimum standard of accountability, by providing substantial update of the results they have accomplished.

BBOG demands number of fallen troops, terrorists