We killed fleeing B’Haram fighters in Gwoza – Army

The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed an unspecified number of insurgents during a fierce battle in Gwoza, Borno State.

Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Wednesday that the insurgents were fleeing the Sambisa Forest due to aerial bombardment by the fighter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force.

Usman said that the insurgents were fleeing in seven pick-ups with motorcycles ‘mounted with assorted weapons such as rocket propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns’ when they ran into the encounter with the troops in Gwoza.

Usman, who did not disclose the exact number of the insurgents killed in the operation, said that the troops destroyed the vehicles and weapons and also recovered some items from them.

According to him, the items recovered include a vehicle, one motorcycle and two AK 47 rifles and large quantities of 7.62mm NATO and 12.7mm ammunition.’

He stated further that the troops were carrying out aggressive offensives and patrol activities in the area.

He said, “Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, Borno State, yesterday evening engaged Boko Haram terrorists fleeing Sambisa Forest following continued aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force.

“The fleeing terrorists in seven pick-ups and some motorcycles mounted with assorted weapons such as rocket propelled grenades and anti-aircrtaft guns were decisively dealt with, killing quite a number of them.

“The troops also destroyed their vehicles, weapons and motorcycles. They also recovered a vehicle, one motorcycle and two AK47 rifles and large quantities of 7.62mm NATO and 12.7mm ammunition.

The troops have intensified their patrols and offensive actions against the terrorists in the area.”

Also, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said in an electronic mail on Wednesday that the Air Force had intensified the strafing of the Sambisa Forest.

He said that the Air Force deployed F-7 fighter aircraft for the bombardment of the forest while the Alpha jet which was deployed in reconnaissance hit some of the moving vehicles of the insurgents.

Alonge added that the ATR-42 and Diamond-142 surveillance aircraft had been involved in surveillance operations over Damasak, Alafis and Sambisa.

“Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has intensified the aerial bombardments of Sambisa forest. The F-7 fighter aircraft carried out interdiction mission over designated targets and suspected Boko Haram locations.

“Also, the Alpha Jet carried out reconnaissance and attacked some moving vehicles belonging to BHT. While, the Mi -24 and Mi-35 attack helicopters further carried out interdiction mission at some identified targets all in Sambisa Forest,” he said.