DHQ Official Statement: Nigerian Troops Capture Boko Haram Leaders, Recover Weapons
The Nigerian troops deployed to Yobe and Borno have reportedly captured some notorious leaders of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and recovered various weapons.
Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
In
the statement, Mr. Olukolade gave the report of a nine-member Defence
Headquarters Operational Assessment Team, sent by the Chief of Defence
Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, to the two states.
Mr. Olukolade said the team visited troop locations in various parts of Borno and Yobe.
“The
commanding officer narrated the conduct of the operation to rid the
(Sambisa) forest of the insurgents who had made the location their
sanctuary,” he said.
The
spokesman quoted the commanding officer as saying that some notorious
leaders of the terrorists had
been captured while some materials
recovered in their camp had provided useful intelligence for subsequent
operations. He did not name the captured Boko Haram leaders.
“The
team was shown the various weapons, including rockets and locally
fabricated weapon accessories captured in the forest,” he said.
Mr.
Olukolade informed the items recovered included a large number of
Improvised Explosive Devices- making materials, laptops, mobile
communication equipment used for shooting and posting online videos, as
well as locally made rockets and rocket launchers.
“Also, seized vehicles of different brands were shown to the team.
“Several
vehicles destroyed by the terrorists as well as their tailoring
equipment apparently used in producing fake uniforms were also shown to
the team,’’ he said.
He said the commanding officer told the team that the unit suffered casualties in men and equipment.
The
defence spokesperson said troops were currently engaged in night and
day patrols of the area to dominate the forest and apprehend any
terrorist who might be lurking around. He said the Chief of Defence
Staff expressed satisfaction with the high level of successes so far
recorded in the operation.
Mr.
Olukolade said he thanked the troop for a job well-done, and urged
members not rest on their oars until the entire region is fully
sanitised and cleared of all terrorist activities.
He said the troops were assured of regular logistic support.
(NAN).
