Four security operatives and many insurgents were killed in a firefight on Saturday in Borno State, the Nigerian Army has said.
In a statement shared on social media on Monday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, noted that the combined troops of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole were on clearance patrol along the fringes of the Lake Chad before the incident occurred.
He explained that the security operatives had advanced and cleared Daban Massara and Ali Sherifti villages, among other settlements before they harboured for replenishment and retrofitting.
As they commenced the second phase of their operations and advance along the Kukawa – Monguno Road which was about 14 kilometres to their base, Yerima said the troops sighted some gun trucks of the Boko Haram terrorist group and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the area.
He added that the soldiers swiftly commenced pursuit of the insurgents with heavy fire and deft manoeuvre.
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“In the course of the hot pursuit which was aided by air cover provided by the Air Task Team of Operation Lafia Dole, several terrorists were neutralised and their gun trucks destroyed.
“Unfortunately, however, one officer and three gallant soldiers paid the supreme sacrifices while those wounded in action are currently receiving medical attention at 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment,” the statement said.
According to the army spokesman, the report was an on-the-spot account of the encounter between the troops and the insurgents in the Monguno area and its environment.
He assured residents in the area and other parts of the country that the troops were on top of the situation and working assiduously to end insurgency in the country.
Yerima explained that this was in line with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.
