arrested 16 informants in Borno State, according to the Defence
Headquarters.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche,
disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Enenche disclosed that the success was recorded in the ongoing
subsidiary operation in the North East Theatre of Operation code-named
‘Operation Kantana Jimlan.
He said the operation, being conducted as part of the conclusive phase
of OPLD, was already recording monumental successes.
Also, Army commences “Exercise Kun Gama” at Falgore Forest, urges
residents not to panic.
According to him, the operation is being conducted preparatory to the
final routing of criminals from the Nigerian territory by the troops of
OPLD.
He said the operation was coordinated by the Chief of Army Staff,
Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, adding that it has intensified on various fronts
especially within the Timbuktu triangle.
Enenche added that the operation had left the criminal elements and
their leadership in complete disarray and thus setting the conditions
for the commencement of the final assault on their enclaves and
hideouts.
“Several targets were acquired and engaged with precision by Nigerian
Army Artillery Regiments across the entire theatre thus delivering
accurate fire on the criminals who were seen fleeing in disarray.
“In a coordinated artillery bombardments on Timbuktu triangle conducted
on May 1 and 2, seven Boko Haram Gun Trucks were destroyed while 78
fighters were killed as confirmed by both aerial and human intelligence.
“Within the same period, another successful artillery engagement to Buk
in Damboa Local Government Area resulted in the neutralization of an
additional 56 BHT criminals.
“Acting on intelligence that a large number of BHT members were
converging at the location, the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army
Artillery Regiments acquired and engaged the location with deadly
precision, inflicting heavy casualties on them.
“As confirmed by our intelligence sources, only a handful of the
terrorists escaped the location with gun shot wounds, with little
chances of survival,” he said.
Enenche further explained that 16 high profile Boko Haram informants
fell into the troops’ dragnet within the last two weeks.
He said that the arrest of such high profile informants had
significantly dislocated the terrorists’ information and supply chains
and equally dislocating their communication.
According to him, as the gallant troops continue to overwhelm the
criminal elements on all fronts, it is quite apparent that the days of
the criminal elements called Boko Haram are indeed numbered.
“Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Buratai, who has been in the
Theatre with the troops for the past five weeks congratulated the
gallant troops for their resilience, courage and dedication to the noble
cause of defending our fatherland against the criminal elements.
“He further urged them to remain focused and ruthless as they take the
fight to the fleeing remnants of the enemies of our nation.
“The general public is hereby encouraged to provide credible information
to our Troops as the NIgerian Military remain resolute in tackling the
security challenges of the Country,” he said.