— Troops kill 2, recover weapons
By Jibrin Baba Ndace
Maiduguri
Community leaders within some areas ravaged by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno, a North East state, have said the insurgents were in disarray and lack weapons to carry on with their onslaught against innocent Nigerians.
The leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said based on information available to them, the Boko Haram terrorists within their areas had been substantially degraded by the Nigerian Army and other security forces in the North.
“I can tell you authoritatively that Boko Haram terrorists no longer have freedom of action as they used to. They are now in disarray within some isolated bushes. We have credible information on some of the areas that they are, and we have passed such to the appropriate authority. ”
The community leaders exclusively told Blueprint that even the pocket of attacks on some villages was as a result of the terrorists’ desperate move to get food.
“Boko Haram terrorists are very desperate for food. They lack food, that is why they attack villages in order to get food.”
They further told our correspondent that some Boko Haram terrorists still have weapons, but lacked ammunition to fire them, urging the troops to comb all the nooks and crannies of isolated villages in the North-east.
“We want troops to comb all communities. They should not leave any stone unturned. We will continue to provide useful information to the troops. They (Boko Haram) are in some isolated areas. We have useful information on them.”
They commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for securing more communities and degrading Boko Haram terrorists. The community leaders who said they were eager to see an to the insurgency, promised to give the required support to the security agencies.
“We commend effort of the troops deployed to our communities. We appreciate their efforts and commitment. We enjoy relating with them and will continue to relate with them.”
Report reaching Blueprint said that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have ambushed and killed two fleeing terrorists as well as captured several weapons and supplies yesterday.
A statement issued yesterday by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Rabe Abubakar, stated that the troops who laid ambush at the Boko Haram crossing point into Sambisa Forest at Iza, engaged the terrorists who succumbed to the superior firepower of troops and fled.
The statement said: “At the end of the encounter two of the terrorists were killed, some abandoned their supplies and fled, one general purpose machine gun and one AK-47 rifle were captured. Other items abandoned by the terrorists were three bicycles, provisions including maggi, potash, peanut and onions.”
