By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops have killed 81 Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa Forest axis just as one soldier also paid the supreme price from landmine attack during a land and air offensive encounter.
The feat was achieved with the support of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as troops of sector1 made up of 21&26 brigades that cleared many villages occupied by the terrorists in the Sambisa axis affecting, Garin Bello, Kwoche, Lawanti, Alfa Bula Hassan and Alfa Cross among others.
NAF aircraft engaged the fleeing terrorists with sorties from the air, just as
sources confirmed that the fleeing terrorists continued to wreak havoc and razing villages in their escape routes.
According to the source, troops on ground encountered stiff resistance from the terrorists who laid Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the troops’ axis of advance.
“The relentless troops destroyed the terrorists’ camps and recovered gun trucks and weapons as NAF aircraft continued to provide close air and interdiction support to the ground forces
“Regrettably, a soldier paid the supreme sacrifice with 4 other soldiers wounded in an improvised explosive devices incident.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, has since sent a message of encouragement to the troops through, Major General Farouk Yahaya, who praised the gallantry of the troops and urged them to sustain it.
The Theatre commander paid glowing tribute to the fallen hero and urged the troops to honour him by dealing with the terrorists ruthlessly without mercy.
Meanwhile, a large number of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists,it was gathered, have invaded Zira and Gur villages in Biu South Local Government Area of Borno State.
They stormed the communities at about 4:30pm on Sunday, on motorcycles and gun-trucks and set ablaze many houses, while residents scampered for safety but their exploits were cut short by NAF gun-ships that destroyed them from the air.
