Army sweeps Boko Haram’s forest base

• Mercenaries captured, scores of insurgents killed
Communities situated within Balmo Forest Reserves, which stretches from Bauchi through Jigawa states with links to the fringes of Sambisa forest, used as operational bases by Boko Haram insurgents, have received long awaited relief as Nigerian troops last weekend cleared the forest of the deadly terrorists.

Defence Headquarters said yesterday that troops cleared the forest and took over the surrounding vicinity after a fierce battle, which resulted in the killing of several insurgents and the capture of fair-skinned foreign mercenaries fighting alongside the Boko Haram.

Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris A. Olukolade said in the latest update on the war against terrorism that insurgents and armed gangs routinely operated from the forest but that they were completely rooted out while some of them were killed and others captured during the operation.

He stated that among those captured were two foreign mercenaries whose nationalities were yet to be ascertained, sev¬eral weapons, communi¬cation gadgets and oth¬er equipment including power generating sets, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuff and assorted kitchen utensils.
The military spokes¬man said that prior to the operation, Balmo forest was “a no-go area” as the forest was extensively used by terrorists as bases and hideouts for launching attacks.
Olukolade also dis¬closed that more than 44 terrorists died in Kerenoa and its adjoining commu-nities, following an en¬counter with troops who repelled their attack on the communities during the weekend.
He added that the large number of terrorists, who were armed with IEDs and other high cal¬ibre weapons, launched a predawn attack on the communities but met stiff resistance from troops.
“During the operation, several of them were cap¬tured with their weapons and ammunition of vari¬ous calibres. Meanwhile, troops on routine patrol around Banki and Miyan¬ti in Borno State during the weekend also fought through an ambush laid by terrorists resulting in casualties on both sides.
“Altogether, a total of six soldiers were lost in the various encounters with terrorists during the weekend while those wounded are currently receiving treatment,” he concluded.
Source: Daily Newswatch