38 suspected members of the radical Boko Haram sect have been killed by troops of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, in the early hours of today (Thursday) as they planned to attack Damboa town of Borno state.
A statement issued in Maiduguri by the spokesman of the division, Col. Mohammed Dole, said that the troops working on information responded timely, killing 38 of the insurgents.
The statement further revealed that one soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries.
“During their regular robust patrols of their Area of Responsibility (AOR), the troops of 195 Battalion in Damboa successfully repelled planned Boko Haram Terrorists’ attack on residents and military camp. In the early hours (0100 hours) of Thursday, 9 January 2014, the insurgents attempted to launch an attack on Damboa to cause havoc and mayhem, but due to the timely information and gallantry displayed by the troops, the attack was repelled and inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists.
The statement also revealed that “some of the insurgents fled with various degrees of injuries.
“Three (3) vehicles, one Sienna LE, (AE 844 DKW) laden with cylinders and Improvised Explosive Devices, one 911 truck (SA 575 BBU) loaded with 200 bags of food stuff and one Mitsubishi canter truck (XD 441 GG) were recovered” the statement adds.
It also disclosed that “large cache of assorted arms of high caliber weapons and ammunition comprising of General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Light Machine Guns (LMG) and two AK 47 rifles were seized”.
The statement said a combined ground troops and Nigerian Air Force aircraft are tactically pursuing the fleeing terrorists in the general area of Damboa and surrounding villages.
The Command appealed to the public to avail the troops with useful information for tracking the fleeing insurgents.