Emmanuel Onani, Abuja
The Nigerian Army yesterday said there was the possibility that shortage of ammunition and other fighting resources may have hit the camp of suspected Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs).
It hinged its suspicion on the discovery of refilled rounds of ammunition by its troops on clearance operation in the North-East.
Army operations media coordinator, who made the disclosure in a statement, further noted the rescue of over 160 hostage-victims, including women and children.
This was as he said that the operations also resulted in the killing of many terrorist suspects, as well as recovery of weapons.
“As the year 2019 drew to a close, the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army continued to sustain their onslaught against remnants of the Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East, decimating many of them and rescuing some women and children in the process.
“In like manner, the troops continued their dogged operational efforts aimed at ridding the North-West and indeed other geo-political zones of the presence and activities of bandits and other criminal elements across the country.
“The troops neutralised one Boko Haram terrorist, captured one other alive as well as rescued eight women and six children. The rescued children were immediately administered with polio vaccines. The gallant troops also destroyed the criminals’ hideouts, captured their flags, recovered 16 arrows and 32 refilled rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the encounter.
“The discovery of refilled ammunition is indicative of acute shortage of ammunition and related resources in the criminals’ holding,” Iliyasu said.
According to him: “The troops conducted a thorough search of the illegal market place and in the process recovered and destroyed 15 vehicles belonging to Boko Haram criminals, arrested 75 suspected Boko Haram criminals’ agents and equally rescued 147 civilians among whom were 79 males and 68 females, who had been under the captivity of the criminal elements.
“The rescued civilians were conveyed to a humanitarian facility in Monguno and thereafter handed over to officials of Borno State Emergency Management Agency. The children among them were administered with polio vaccine by the Buratai Intervention Task Force Initiative.
“The troops neutralised one Boko Haram terrorist, captured one other alive as well as rescued eight women and six children. The rescued children were immediately administered with polio vaccines. The gallant troops also destroyed the criminals’ hideouts, captured their flags, recovered 16 arrows and 32 refilled rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the encounter.”
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