Nigerian Army Troops in conjunction with hybrid force and element of Civilian Joint Task Force in an offensive operation conducted on Wednesday 28 February 2024, successfully overran Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ stronghold in Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region.
Director Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement issued Friday said the operation led to the recovery of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and a cache of arms and ammunition, after a fierce battle with the insurgents.
He said during the operation, insurgents attacked own troops with Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), Mortar, Gun trucks and motorbikes, but fell under the overwhelming superior fire power of the troops, forcing them to abandon their stronghold, armaments and equipment in disarray.
Nwachukwu noted: “The operation proved to be a major setback to the insurgents, as the gallant troops neutralised three terrorists and recovered one MRAP, one gun truck, one Dushka Machine Gun, one AK 47 Rifle and one locally fabricated gun.
“Troops also captured one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 273 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one Pumping machine, 65 Dushka links, 48 General Purpose Machine Gun links and three motorbikes.”
Nwachukwu added that the gallant troops are presently exploiting their success in pursuit of the routed insurgents.
In a separate operation, he said the troops of the Nigerian Army conducted a fighting patrol to criminals’ hideouts in Katakpa Village in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He stressed that during the operation, troops neutraliaed one of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one Pump Action semi- automatic rifle, three AK-47 magazines and 90 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition.