Troops Foil Boko Haram Ambush In Borno, Dismantle Fighters’ Camps

Troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade have foiled an ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters along the Buni Gari–Buratai axis in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and dismantled the camps the fighters used around the scene.

The troops, operating under Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, were on a routine patrol when they ran into the ambush and forced the attackers to withdraw in disarray, according to a statement by Captain Mohammed Goni, acting information officer of the Joint Task Force North East. Reinforcements were deployed to clear the site and search the surrounding area.

The ambush was staged at about 10:45 a.m. on Monday, September 7. A mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device during the encounter, damaging two of its tyres. There were no casualties among the troops, although some military vehicles sustained damage.

Items recovered include a motorcycle, bicycles, a rifle magazine, 30 rounds of 7.62x39mm special ammunition and rocket-propelled grenade bombs. Troops also discovered and dismantled several makeshift camps assessed to have served as staging areas and hideouts.

The military said the operation “underscores the resolve and fighting spirit” of troops of Operation HADIN KAI to deny terrorists freedom of action and protect communities across the theatre. It urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, adding that the security situation in the area remains calm but unpredictable.

In a related development in the same theatre, four family members of suspected fighters, including an eight-month-old infant, surrendered to troops of 192 Battalion along the Gwoza–Limankara road on Sunday. The military said preliminary investigation showed they escaped from the Hiduwa enclave in the Mandara Mountains due to a lack of basic necessities and are now undergoing screening.

Sources: Channels Television, Vanguard