No fewer than 16 Boko Haram insurgents were on Saturday killed in an encounter with Army troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in the Forward Operational Base (FOB) along Mairari in Monguno at about 6.50 pm on Friday 27 July 2018, in Mairari, a village located in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy Director Public Relations, theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the insurgents who were in three vehicles, including Gun trucks had infiltrated had attacked the community, when troops at the FOB were alerted by locals.
According to him, the troops supported by the Air Task Force swiftly responded to the attack killing 16 insurgents and capturing two gun trucks abandoned by the insurgents, as they tried escaping.
The Army also recovered 163 Rounds of Anti Aircraft Gun Ammunition during the fierce encounter.
He however added that four civilians and a soldier sustained varying degrees of injury during the fire fight, and have been promptly evacuated to a Military Hospital, where they currently receiving medical attention.
Meanwhile, the army while assuring the people of their readiness to further combat terror has also informed that the Base has been further reinforced with additional troops, adding that fighting patrols are on the trail of the insurgents who fled the attack.
The Army has further enjoined members of the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious person(s) or activities as they go about their normal business as calm has since been restored and the people of Mongonu Local Government Area.