Army kills 11Boko Haram members in Maiduguri

Nigerian troops on Saturday killed 11 fighters from the Islamist sect Boko Haram during a shootout in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, a spokesman said.

“Today, in an exchange of fire during an cordon-and-search operation conducted by the JTF, 11 Boko Haram members were killed,” Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed told AFP by telphone, referring to the army’s Joint Task Force unit.

Mohammed said no casualties were suffered by the JTF, a specialised squad set up last year to crack down on Boko Haram, a shadowy group that is blamed for the deaths of more than 200 people already this year.

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, was placed under a state of emergency on December 31 by President Goodluck Jonathan along with other parts of the country hard hit by Boko Haram’s attacks.

The city is seen as Boko Haram’s base.

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Army set to confront Boko Haram

AS part of moves to halt the activities of Boko Haram sect, the Nigerian Army have concluded arrangements to intensify training in counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, on the current security situation in the country, Director, Army Public Relations, Major-General Ralph Isa, disclosed that troops were now patrolling major highways and towns complimenting the efforts of already existing task forces.

According to him, Nigerian Army troops on Operation Restore Order III recently raided a suspected terrorists’ hideout in Pompomari area of Damaturu in Yobe State where it discovered an ammunition dump and a number of AK-47 rifles and Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, adding that troops have continued to dominate the area with joint patrols.

The Army spokesman, who noted that major challenges posed by the sect have been reported mainly in Borno and Yobe states, stressed that their primary targets have been mainly isolated offices of security agencies, a few Army patrol vehicles and some places of worship.

Isah also disclosed that following information from arrested members of Boko Haram sect, Operation Restore Order I in Maiduguri conducted series of cordon and search operations in conjunction with other security agencies leading to the discovery of about 40 small arms and subsequent arrest of suspected members of sect.

Speaking further, the Spokesman said that in Yobe, some members of the sect were making IEDs which unfortunately exploded in the process and thereafter attracted troops that did not hesitate to move to the scene and recovered 32 assorted arms and 339 ammunition of different calibers, among other items.

He added that those arrested were cooperating and making useful statements that will provide the basis for future operations.

On the ultimatums and panic movements across the country, General Isa explained that the Army and other security agencies in the country were fully aware of those text messages emanating from some groups threatening people of non-eastern and South-South origin to quit some geo-political zones in the country.

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