ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Military forces in Nigeria have successfully neutralized three terrorists in the Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region, during an operation.
During the operation, the troops also managed to recover a machine gun, a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, a gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, and a cache of arms and ammunition, as the soldiers invaded the terrorists’ hideouts in Timbuktu.
According to a statement released on Friday, signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu: “The Nigerian Army Troops in conjunction with hybrid force and element of the Civilian Joint Task Force in an offensive operation conducted on Wednesday 28 February 2024, successfully overran Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province Terrorists’ stronghold in the Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region, recovering MRAP vehicle, gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and a cache of arms and ammunition, after a fierce battle with the insurgents.
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“During the operation, insurgents attacked their troops with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, mortar, gun trucks, and motorbikes, but fell under the overwhelming superior firepower of the troops, forcing them to abandon their stronghold, armaments, and equipment in disarray.
“The operation proved to be a major setback to the insurgents, as the gallant troops neutralized three terrorists and recovered one MRAP, one gun truck, one Dushka Machine Gun, one AK 47 Rifle, and one locally fabricated gun. Troops also captured one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 273 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one Pumping machine, 65 Dushka links, 48 General Purpose Machine Gun links and three motorbikes.”
Onyema said in another operation conducted in Nasarawa, troops killed one criminal and recovered dangerous weapons.
“In a separate operation, troops of the Nigerian Army conducted a fighting patrol to criminals’ hideouts in Katakpa Village in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. During the operation, troops neutralized one of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one Pump Action Semi-automatic rifle, three AK-47 magazines, and 90 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition.
“The Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops for the successful operations and charged them to remain resilient and sustain the momentum of the operations, ”he said.