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Several Terrorists Killed As Military Recaptures Gwoza

The Nigerian Military on Friday said  that it has recaptured one of the last towns still controlled by Boko Haram in Borno State. The military … Continue reading Several Terrorists Killed As Military Recaptures Gwoza


GwozaThe Nigerian Military on Friday said  that it has recaptured one of the last towns still controlled by Boko Haram in Borno State.

The military said they captured Gwoza and destroyed the headquarters of the “terrorists’ self-styled Caliphate”.

“Several terrorists died while many are captured,” a military official said,  hinting that “they are mopping up the entire area and her suburbs”.

In a press statement, the spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the military was carrying out its task to end violent and heinous crimes perpetrated by terrorists in Nigeria’s north-east.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria will halt the carnage and restore sanity in that region, with the deployment of land and air forces, he said.

The deployment denied the terrorists the freedom of action they had hitherto enjoyed and they resorted to diversionary tactics known with terrorist groups around the world by carrying out isolated attacks and bombings.  The series of deployment and operational effectiveness of the military were however challenged by the porosity of the borders, which gave the terrorists leverage to operate in Nigeria and retreat into safe havens in neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon.Gowa2

The recent re-invigoration of a partnership between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries under the auspices of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) provided the desired response to the challenge, as the border areas that hitherto served as hideouts for the terrorists have been actively dominated by troops in the MNJTF.

The development decimated the fighting capabilities of the terrorists, as the Nigerian military carries out a final onslaught on the nation’s enemy within the country.  These successful operations have culminated in the dislodgement of the militants from towns and communities in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States.

The reclaiming of Gwoza was preceded by the sacking of terrorists from towns and villages leading to Gwoza. Several of the terrorists died and many of them were captured in the process.

“A lot of arms and ammunition were also recovered and the administrative headquarters completely destroyed,” the military spokesman said.

Maj. Gen Olukolade said massive cordon and search has commenced to locate any of the fleeing terrorists or hostages in their custody.

gowa 4As at Thursday, the military took over virtually all the enclaves and hideouts where the terrorists were marauding. After the attack, some of the terrorists fled towards border areas, but were contained by the contingents in the Multinational Joint Task Force.

The mop up operation in Gwoza and other liberated areas will continue in order to ensure that no vestiges of terrorists or terrorism remain in our country, the military said.

The Nigerian military further urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and report every movement or assemblage of suspicious characters to the security forces, insisting that “NEVER AGAIN shall the evil elements re-group to terrorise or cause mayhem in our country”.

Earlier on Thursday, troops from Chad and Niger pursued Boko Haram fighters across a northern Nigeria border area, retaking Gasheger from the terrorist group.