Troops repel Boko Haram attack on Force Battalion in Borno, rescue 455 hostages (see photos)

Troops of the 121 Task Force Battalion in Pulka, Borno state, yesterday repelled an attack by Boko Haram members who came from Sambisa Forest in 5 gun trucks, motorcycles and 2 Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Usman Sani, states that the ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed 7 Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition.

In a related development, troops of 3 Battalion caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala. On interrogation, he confessed that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge. Consequent upon this the troops organized a fighting patrol comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari. The troops had encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered 5 motorcycles and 8 bicycles. They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recovered 1 AK-47 rifles as well as 1 Dane gun.

The troops also rescued 455 persons and escorted them to Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp. Unfortunately, we lost one of the Civilian JTF. Nevertheless, the troops’ morale remains very high. Similarly, troops of 103 Battalion this evening ambushed Boko Haram terrorists at Mairimri village crossing point in which they killed quite a number of terrorists, recovered 15 bicycles and foodstuffs. Further confirmatory reconnaissance would be conducted to further exploit the situation.