Artillery Bombardment: Troops
Artillery Bombardment: Troops Eliminate 7 Boko Haram
Kingpins, Recover Sophisticated Weapons
. . . Rescued 4 Kidnapped Students in Gurmi
Village
TACTICAL BOOMERANG; SEVEN BOKO HARAM CRIMINALS KILLED EIGHT
OTHERS CRIPPLED BY THEIR OWN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
As the artillery bombardment and ground assault by troops of the
Nigerian Army (NA) intensify across Operation LAFIYA DOLE Theatre,
more Boko Haram casualties are being recorded. In a clear case that
can be best described as a tactical boomerang, on Friday, 18
October 2019, some marauding Boko Haram criminals elements who were
escaping the unbearable battle heat turned on them by NA troops met
their waterloo as one of their vehicles, a Toyota Sam Sahara Model,
stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) laid by them
against NA troops at Lamba’a Forest along Jakana – Mainok Road in
Borno State. The self-inflicted destruction consumed 7 Boko Haram
criminals while 8 others suffered severe injuries. Consequently,
troops have mobilised to the general area for route clearance and
mop-up operation.
In another development, a syndicate that specializes in the
smuggling of smoked fish from the Lake Chad region for sale in some
parts of Nigeria have been busted by the diligent troops of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Reliable information available revealed that
Boko Haram criminals/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP)
and their collaborators are using the fish business to finance and
sustain their heinous activities. The proceeds from the sales are
believed to be channelled into the procurement of food stuff,
groceries, drugs, toiletries, vehicle spare parts and other items
for the sustenance of their criminal activities.
Relatedly, troops of Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE while acting
on a reliable intelligence, raided the residence of some suspected
illegal fish smugglers near Water Board Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) Camp in Monguno LGA of Borno State. Four suspects
were arrested and 16 sacks of smoked fish concealed in a room were
recovered. In a similar operation conducted by troops of Sector 2
Operation LAFIYA DOLE on 10 October 2019, 9 vehicles loaded with
illegal smoked fish consignments were equally intercepted at
Bukarti in Geidam LGA of Yobe State en-route Hadejia in Jigawa
State. Consequently, 18 suspects including drivers, conductors,
mechanics and agents were also apprehended.
In another development, troops deployed at a Check Point along
Baga Road in Borno State while on Operation POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION
arrested one Musa Ishaku while in possession of a fake Nigeria
Customs ID card which he has been using to deceive security
agencies. Additionally, troops of 1 Division also rescued 4
kidnapped students from bandits at Gurmi Village in Chikun LGA of
Kaduna State after a brief fire fight with criminals. In Rivers
State, troops of 16 Brigade Garrison (Main) raided a suspected Sea
Pirates Camp at Tingibibi Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State. The
suspected sea pirates who obviously could not withstand the
overwhelming fire power of the troops, fled the enclave in
disarray. Items recovered from the camp include one AK 47 Rifle
magazine, 5 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 3 cartridges, one
binocular and 3 para red rocket. In the same vein, troops
neutralised one armed robber during an anti-robbery operation at
Adipet Filling Station along Rukuba Road in Jos North LGA of
Plateau State. Others were believed to have escaped with gun shot
wounds. Similarly, following confessional statements made by an
arrested notorious bandit/kidnap kingpin named Yellow, troops of 3
Brigade tracked and arrested one of his gang members, Dahiru Dogo
in Falgore Forest in Kano State.
The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai
wishes to reassure the general public on the resolve of the
Nigerian Army to rid the society of criminal elements for a secured
environment.
AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator
20 October 2019.