Boko Haram kills 5 soldiers, 4 others in ambush

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Less than 24 hours after the United States urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent in piling pressure on Boko Haram, the insurgents on Sunday killed five soldiers, three vigilantes and a Civilian JTF man in an ambush.

The attack occurred after an operation in the southern part of Borno State.

The troops were on their way to clear Boko Haram from the remote Talala and Ajigin villages of Damboa Local Government in southern Borno, are unknown to them, the insurgents had laid ambush at Ugundiri villages.

“The insurgents opened fire on the troops in a bush around Ugundiri village, causing confusion. Some soldiers and Civilian JTF man in the team lost their lives,” a Civilian JTF who preferred anonymity, told Daily Sun.

Army spokesman, Col Sani Usman, in a statement issued yesterday, said the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, who were carrying out :clearance operations” on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Talala and Ajigin, southern part of Borno State, were ambushed by suspected terrorists at Ugundiri village, while returning to base after clearance operations.

“Unfortunately, five soldiers, three vigilantes and one Civilian JTF member lost their lives during the ambush, while 19 soldiers and 1 Civilian JTF sustained various degrees of injuries,” he disclosed.

He said  the deceased soldiers and others have been evacuated to Maiduguri while the injured are receiving medical care.

He, however, said troops destroyed the terrorists’ gun truck and recovered two anti-aircraft guns, two spare gun barrels, one General Purpose Machine gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade, one AK-47 Rifle and 320 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Usman also said the military received intelligence about gathering of some Boko Haram around Bori village, near Mainok about 16 kilometres from Maiduguri. “Troops swung into action and neutralized them. The troops recovered three motorcycles, one hand grenade, one round of 7.62mm ammunition, among others.

Meanwhile, soldiers on patrol have arrested two suspected terrorists in the state, who “supplied” Boko Haram with drugs, logistics and fuel.

In a statement, Col. Usman, named the drugs’ supplier as Kadiri Umate, 35, and the fuel supplier as Fantoma Lasani.

He said Umate was nabbed at Firgi and Zawan axis in Bama local governmnet, a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ crossing point while trying to cross into Sambisa forest.

“The patrol team recovered 35 packets of 500ml of Glucose Intravenous infusion (Drip), assorted analgesics and pain killer drugs, clothes, bathroom slippers, insecticides, salt, kolanuts and a bicycle,” Usman said.

“The suspect is undergoing preliminary investigations,” he noted.

Source: The Sun