Saturday 26 October 2013

Terror: Army kills over 95 insurgents in Borno

In continuation of its fight against Boko Haram
Insurgents in the North-East, the troops of 7
Division of the Nigerian Army have destroyed
Boko Haram camp, killing over 95 insurgents in
Galangi and Limanti villages of Kaga local
government area of Borno state. The invasion came barely some hours after attack
on military and police locations in Damaturu the
capital of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be
Boko Haram members yesterday. The gunmen
had access and launched coordinated attacks
using Rocket Propelled Launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices (EIDs) on different military
checkpoints within the metropolis killing several
people. Mallam Abdulwasiu Akinsanya, a staff of Media
Trust, publishers of Daily Trust, Weekly Trust and
Sunday Trust was among several civilians that
were killed in Damaturu when the gunmen
launched multiple attacks on military and police
locations as well as public and private buildings on Thursday. His Wife, Bilkisu A. Akinsanya
confirmed that her husband was killed around
5.30pm when their vehicle broke down in
Damaturu shortly before the Boko Haram
insurgents launched the attacks.



Explaining the military invasion, the insurgents,
the Army in a Press release signed by its
spokesman LT Col Muhammad Dole stated that
the operations which involved ground and aerial
assault supported by the Nigerian Airforce led to
the destruction of the terrorist camp, killing of over 95 insurgents, while several others escaped
with gunshot wounds. Items recovered from the terrorist’s camp,
according to the release includes two Isuzu Tiger
Pick-up Vans and five Hilux belonging to the
terrorists were destroyed, while two soldiers were
wounded during the operation. General Ethan also reiterated the commitment of
the Nigerian Army 7 Division to ensuring safety of
lives and property of all citizens within its area of
operations. Witnesses of the Damaturu onslaught said the
gunmen first launched attack around the NNPC
Mega station, a suburb of Damaturu which had
been a GSM Call centre for Maiduguri residents
who on daily basis travel from Maiduguri due to
lack of telecommunication network to make calls. The NNPC Mega Station is about 2 kilometres
away to the City of Damaturu where military
operatives have one of their checkpoints, a few
metres away from the station, and because of the
presence of the security checkpoint, many phone
callers from Maiduguri turned the place to a call centre with adequate security cover; but the
gunmen launched their deadly attack on the area
before moving to other places in the city. The attack which signaled their presence before
penetrating the town after a while started around
5:30pm and lasted till midnight as security
operatives responded promptly. Although, the number of casualties was sketchy
at press time, sources said, several terrorists were
killed including security operatives. Residents said sound of gun shots and Improvise
Explosive Devices (IED) were heard across all the
nook and crannies of the town, but could not give
further details as to how many people were
affected in the attacks. A source said, “I saw dead bodies on the streets
near my house, but could not ascertain whether
the dead bodies are that of Boko Haram
members, innocent civilians or security
operatives”. The spokesman of the Special Operation Battalion
in Yobe state, captain Eli Lazarus who confirmed
the attack said ”security forces in the state capital
are in a gun battle with the insurgents.” Shortly after the confirmation of the attack,
Captain Eli Lazarus in a statement said “the
Special operation Battalion Damaturu hereby
imposed a 24 hours curfew across Yobe state
with immediate effect, as the battalion steps up
its operation to rid the state of insurgents”. The statement urged law abiding citizens to
remain calm and to accord the security operatives
the usual cooperation. Security forces are yet to confirm the level of
casualties or destruction caused by the attack
which lasted for over eight hours. The Special Operation Battalion Damaturu had
early yesterday reviewed the curfew time in
Potiskum town between the hours of 10PM – 6:00
AM to 9: PM – 6: 00 AM. Yesterday’s attack was a serious setback to the
relative peace being enjoyed across the state and
Damaturu the state capital in particular.

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