Military reclaims three more towns in Yobe

IN a highly coordinated ground operation that lasted over nine hours along the 160-kilometre Gujba-Buni/Yadi-Bara Forest, troops of the Nigerian Army 7 Division on Tuesday recaptured three towns and a village in Yobe State. .

A similar operation, led by an anonymous senior military officer, had on Monday uncovered a bomb factory at the College of Agriculture, Gujba. A military source yWednesday in Damaturu listed Bara, the Gulani local council headquarters, Gujba village, Buni/Yadi and Buni/Garias areas recaptured along the Damaturu-Biu Road. .

“There were challenges on the terrain while our troops were advancing to reclaim these towns and villages. On our ground advance towards Buni/Yadi, our men and officers uncovered a bomb-making centre at the College of Agriculture,” the source said. .

He added: “We got a tip-off that the militants were hiding inside the college, but immediately we entered and uncovered a bomb factory there, we had to deploy bomb experts to denote some of them before proceeding to other captured towns and villages in the state.

“Our troops also realized that most of the insurgents who escaped from the areas we just reclaimed, that is Bara and Buni/Yadi, fled to Goniri, where I believe we will have the last fight and return to Damaturu military base.”

On the bomb factory, he said: “We are pursuing the fleeing insurgents and blocking their possible escape routes. This will at least minimize or end the incessant suicide bombings in Yobe and Gombe states.

“Our troops may advance towards the Gujba Forest to hole up the insurgents at Goniri before they flee into Sambisa Forest.”