The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that 73 Boko Haram members were killed in the north-east within the last two weeks.
The Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the operation was carried out by troops of operation Hadin Kai.
Onyeuko said a large cache of arms and equipment were recovered from the insurgents in different encounters during the period under review.
According to him, on June 27, the troops received a total of 55 escapees from the insurgents’ camps “comprising 15 adult males, 12 adult females and 27 children who surrendered to them at Darajemel in Borno”.
44 AK-47 rifles, two PKT, seven anti-aircraft guns, seven gun trucks, ammunition; weapon cleaning materials, blankets, foodstuff, vehicles, generators, IED materials, religious scripts and other items were also recovered.
He said, “During the air operations, the spiritual base and training camps of the terrorists in the north-east part of Borno state and the fringes of Lake Chad were destroyed by air bombardments.
“These came on the heels of a credible intelligence report which revealed that, some top ISWAP/BHT commanders were holding a meeting at the said locations.
“The north-west, troops of operation Hadarin Daji and other security agencies executed series of land and air operations concurrently in different locations during the period”.
According to the spokesman, “The operations also resulted in the rescue of kidnap victims in various locations including a teacher and some students kidnapped at the Federal Government College in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi,” he added.
“Some gunrunners and bandits logistics suppliers, including one Lawali Na Habu was also intercepted with trucks loaded with large quantities of AGO at Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State and one Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, a wanted notorious bandit was also arrested.
“The air component also conducted series of air operations, provided close air support for ground troops and dominated the air space within the period.
“On the whole, troops have continued to dominate the theatre of operations with aggressive fighting and confidence-building patrols to reassure citizens of the commitment of the military to end all of form criminality in the zone.”
