Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) along with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) have killed 35 Boko Haram fighters in the ongoing clearance operation in Sambisa Forest.
It was gathered that the 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama, in collaboration with the 199 Special Forces Battalion, led by Brig. Gen. Victor Unachukwu commenced the special operations between Monday and Thursday and cleared several enclaves in the forest.
Corroborating, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, said the troops further stormed and cleared Izzah and Farisu on April 19, where the troops ferociously engaged dozens of the insurgents in a heavy gun battle.
The troops overpowered the terrorists after about 30 minutes of battle, killing 18 of them and recovered several motorcycles, AK47 rifles and an Anti-Aircraft gun.
He said one member of the CJTF, unfortunately, died in the encounter.
A security source said the troops further moved to Farisu where they eliminated an additional eight insurgents.
In Alafa, three insurgents were killed, including one commander, simply identified as “Salafi” while two motorcycles were recovered.
“In addition, on April 20, In Ukuba, the ground troops made contact with another set of the insurgents, killing seven; while others escaped with bullet wounds. The troops recovered one truck and two 122 artillery guns.
“The troops moved further to clear Garin Glucose where they neutralised additional two insurgents while others hastily withdrew and avoided making contact with the approaching troops.
“At the end of the three days of special operations, the troops successfully cleared terrorists’ hideouts in Garno, Alafa, Alafa D, Garin Doctor, Njumia, Izzah, Farisu, Somalia, Ukuba, Garin Glucose, Garin Ba’aba and Bula Abu Amir communities in Bama LGA in Borno State.
“In the course of the operation, some women that were held captive by the insurgents were rescued,” the security source said.
