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The Director Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops have destroyed 10 more terrorists’ camps in the Sambisa Forest stronghold of the insurgents.
Olukolade also said that the soldiers who carried out the raid killed an unspecified number of insurgents in the operation.
However, Olukolade said that a soldier died and two other sustained injuries from land mines during the operation.
Olukolade, whose comments were contained in a statement on Sunday, said that one of the most prominent camps of the terrorists, the Dure Camp, was among the camps that fell to the superior fire power of the troops.
According to him, three of the camps were newly established by the insurgents before the commencement of the onslaught on the Sambisa and four others at a place called Iza in the forest.
He said, “An unconfirmed number of terrorists died on Saturday as 10 additional camps used by terrorists were overrun in the continuing offensive operations against the terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
“The Dure camp, which is one of the most prominent camps in the forest, witnessed the fiercest battle as the Special Forces descended heavily on it before it finally fell.
“Four of the camps were located in a place called Iza within the forest while three others were noted to be recently established by the terrorists before the assault began.
“One soldier died from one of the land mines encountered in the operation while two others were also wounded.
Olukolade added that the troops captured several vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armoured vehicles from the insurgents.
The Defence spokesman added that several of the insurgents who were fleeing the attack were killed in an ambush as they tried to escape from the forest.
He said that the fleeing terrorists were involved in suicide missions at Bitat and had encounters with troops at ‘Kiseru across the border with Niger.’
He stated that the fighter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force were maintaining effective aerial surveillance to track the movement of terrorists in the ongoing operation.
“The Operation to clear the terrorists in Sambisa and other forests is continuing as troops in all fronts have been alerted to be on the lookout for fleeing terrorists.”
Copyright PUNCH
