Nigerian troops makes progress in counter insurgency operation

Troops are making progress in the ongoing clearance operations across the northeast, the Nigerian Army said Thursday.

Spokesperson for the Army Col. Sani Usman said in a statement made available to Xinhua in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub that more Boko Haram hideouts are being cleared and scores of suspected terrorists killed.

He said the latest successes were recorded by troops comprising elements of 7 Division, Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion and supported by aerial reconnaissance and surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force.

Usman said the insurgents' enclaves in 13 villages in Bama and a village in Abadam Local Government Areas of Borno were cleared during the joint operations conducted between Wednesday and Thursday.

He added that 225 hostages were rescued in separate operations across the state while an undisclosed number of suspected terrorists were killed.

According to him, troops of 26 Battalion, 151 Task Force Battalion, 155 Task Force Battalion and some elements of 21 Brigade have carried out a joint clearance operations.

The army spokesperson said the operations were aimed to destroy remnants of Boko Haram terrorists camps and enclaves in the early hours of today in several villages in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Usman added that the rescued hostages comprised women and children who have been screened and transported to the various Internally Displaced Persons camps across the state.

He said troops recovered different cache of arms and ammunition, and other items in the last 48 hours of clearance operations in Borno alone.

According to Usman, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, on blocking position, encountered a convoy of Boko Haram terrorists on motorcycles, killed one of them and recovered a bag containing money.

He added that troops of 111 Special Forces Battalion and the Civilian JTF have continued to secure the reopened Maiduguri-Damboa road to ease movement of motorists along the axis.

According to Usman, no fewer than 300 vehicles are escorted daily by the units on the Maiduguri-Damboa road.

He said the Nigerian Air Force has also continued to provide air reconnaissance and airlift of commanders to front line troops across the restive northeast.b source : xinhua