Five terrorists and two soldiers lost their lives on Tuesday as troops continued the crackdown on the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the Sambisa forest.
The Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday night.
The soldiers were carrying out clearance operation when they encountered the terrorists.
“The clearance operations progressed further into other identified insurgents’ camps around Tchikide and Chinene, where the troops ferociously engaged and cleared pockets of resistance by the insurgents, killing five of them in the encounter,” the statement said.
Explaining the death of the two officers, Nwachukwu said, “As troops exploited further in pursuit of the insurgents as they fled, one of the combat vehicles was rammed into by a terrorists’ Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), injuring two officers in the vehicle.
“The wounded officers were promptly evacuated for medical attention by the Battle Group medical team. Regrettably, we lost the two gallant officers yesterday afternoon. the troops rammed into by a terrorists’ Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) while in a hot pursuit thereby leading to an injury in the process.”
Despite the death of the soldiers, Nwachukwu said troops continue their operations.
