39 terrorists killed, 20 soldiers wounded in Boko’Haram clash

• Troops nab bandits’ sponsor, informants in Zamfara, Sokoto
• Group canvasses rejig of security apparatus
• Army commandant proffers key to tackling banditry, insurgency

Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have neutralised 39 terrorists at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Council of Borno State.Twenty soldiers were wounded while repelling the insurgents that attacked the Cross Kauwa military post in the evening of Tuesday.

Spokesman of MNJTF, Col. Timothy Antigha, stated yesterday in N’Djamena, Chad: “The vigilant task force troops overwhelmed the terrorists and killed 39; with recovery of several arms and gun trucks.”According to him, the insurgents had been using Cross Kauwa as a crossing point into Lake Chad to attack fishing and herding communities.He said the wounded soldiers had already been airlifted for treatment.

While intensifying operation to dislodge kidnappers and armed bandits in Zamfara State, troops of Operation Sharan Daji have arrested the vice chairman of Anka Council in Zamfara, Yahuza Wuya, and two alleged informants to criminals.Acting Force Information Officer, Operation Sharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, stated that credible intelligence report on April 13, 2019 alleged that the vice chairman assisted bandits in Wuya and Sunke communities “in selling stolen cows and donkeys as well as giving information about troops, other security agencies and vigilantes’ movement to the bandits.“He was also accused of aiding the release of a notorious gun-runner, one Sani Yaro, from Gusau prison.”

In a bid to ensure the wellbeing of the citizenry, the Buhari Integrity Group (BIG) is pushing for a rejig of the heads of various security services in the country.BIG’s convener, Sampson Anyebe, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider taking on board serving and retired military officers to inject fresh ideas into dealing with the nation’s security challenges.

Meanwhile, the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, AVM Lawal Alao, has said that effective synergy among security agencies is key to wiping out criminal activities in the country.The army chief stated this while closing Exercise Haske Biyu 2019, for students of Senior Course 41 and other participants at the college.

A total of 318 personnel participated in the three weeks’ exercise, which was carried out to encourage adoption of other options in winning the war against insurgents and other criminals not necessarily through warfare.He explained that, “as our security threat become more complicated, it is worthy to note that our coordinated response has become more integrated, robust and fit-for-purpose.”