Boko Haram strikes again, kills 5 soldiers, 4 civilians in Borno

• Drug supplier arrested by troops

Nine people including five soldiers with Operation Lafiya Dole carrying out clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts in Talala and Ajigin, southern part of Borno State, were killed by the terrorists following an ambush at Ugundiri village, Damboa Local Government Area of the state while returning to base after clearance operations on Sunday.

Apart from the soldiers, three vigilantes and one civilian JTF also lost their lives during the ambush, while 19 soldiers and one civilian JTF sustained various degrees of injuries.

Bodies of the late soldiers and civilians were evacuated to Maiduguri while the injured are receiving commensurate medical care and in stable condition.

A statement from acting spokesman of the army, Colonel Sani Usman said that the 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.

He said that troops were mobilized into blocking positions to further neutralise fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.

The statement recalled that another set of troops had earlier cleared Zira, Abulam, Dusula, and Buk villages before returning to base in Bulabulin.

According to him and based on information received about gathering of some suspected Boko Haram terrorists around Bori village, which is 16 kilometres away from Mainok, outskirts of Maiduguri, troops swung into action and neutralized them.

The troops recovered three motorcycles, one handheld grenade, one round of 7.62mm ammunition, solar panel, a pair of Niger Republic military camouflage uniform, one Gionee mobile telephone handset, one wet cell battery and half bag of groundnut.

Meanwhile, troops on patrol from Bama to Pulka, intercepted suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ drugs and other logistics suppliers from Firgi and Zawan axis, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, at suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point, trying to cross into Sambisa forest.

The troops pursued them but were only able to apprehend Kadiri Umate, 35 years, while others fled into the bush.

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.

Also, a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics and fuel supplier, Fantoma Lasani was arrested by troops in conjunction with civilian JTF at Muna garage when he came to pick his wife to finally relocate out of Maiduguri.

The suspect who hailed from Flatari village, Bama Local Government Area was believed to have been supplying Boko Haram terrorists with premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil in Bama, Gwoza and Sambisa general area.