Military kills 50 insurgents in Borno

—  SSS arrests Boko Haram impostor

By Sadiq Abubakar, Maiduguri, and Jibrin Baba Ndace, Abuja

Troops conducting anti-terrorism campaign in the North-east have averted a massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa states at the weekend, the Defence Headquarters said yesterday.
In a press release, the Director of Defence Information, Major-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said the insurgents, who were on their way to attack selected communities, were ambushed by troops along Bilta, Borno state, on receiving intelligence report of their intention.
Olukolade said: “The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday.
“Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, 7 machine guns and 11 rocket propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.

“Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns, as well as 4 vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.”
He added that four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in a military medical facility.
Meanwhile, some communities in Dikwa local government area of Borno state were thrown into panic yesterday as a  result of  sounds of  explosions caused by expired batteries from the solar street light in some major streets of the town which were mistaken for an attack launched by Boko Haram.
Many residents ran into the bush and neighbouring villages.

The pandemonium, which occured at about 11 a.m., worsened when security forces deployed to the area fired sporadic gunshots into the air.
Blueprint gathered that there was mass exodus of people, including women and children, following the thunderous blast.
Residents who initially spoke to newsmen on the incident on phone from Maiduguri said members of Boko Haram stormed the area and detonated  explosives before engaging troops stationed at a check-point along the Maiduguri-Dikwa road.
“The terrorists have attacked the military station in Dikwa with guns and explosives and the fight is ongoing. Most of our people have fled for now and only God knows how the fight will end,” one of the residents, Malam Bakura Goni, said.
However, a top security personnel refuted the rumour, saying, “There was no attack in Dikwa by the insurgents. Rather, the people were actually scared when they heard  scaring  explosions caused by some solar light batteries kept in a store at the LGC secretariat.
“And immediately after the ‘blast’ our men, military troops in Dikwa, fired friendly shots into the air and the residents mistook the development and fled. I want to assure you that normalcy has returned.”
In a related development, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) has arrested an unnamed person accused of extorting influential members of the public, claiming to represent Boko Haram.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, disclosed this yesterday while briefing the press on efforts being made to locate the Chibok schoolgirls and the general efforts to contain raging insurgency in parts of the country.
The suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation, was masquerading as a representative of the Book Haram terrorists, Omeri said.
He advised members of the public to be careful and watch out for shady characters in their areas and report them to security agents.
He said: “There is the need for understanding of the series and seeming measures and activities all over the country.
“Citizens are requested to cooperate with the operatives of security agencies despite the inconsistencies. The essence is to ensure the safety of all in the current atmosphere of terrorists’ threat.
“All actions taken by security agencies are not punitive or targeted at law-abiding citizens in any way. They are necessary steps to safeguard and protect lives and property.”