Army kills seven terrorists, rescues woman in Borno, Yobe

Troops of the Nigeria Army’s Operation Fire Ball have neutralised seven Boko Haram terrorists and rescued a mother of three children in Borno and Yobe states.

The military operations that began on October 20, 2020, were conducted last week to sack terrorists from Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad region and Mandara Hills in Borno State.

Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, in a statement in Maiduguri, said: “Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni/Gari of Gujba Council Area of Yobe State routed Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

“Their attempt to infiltrate the town along the 130-kilometre Damaturu/Biu Road was resisted, as the troops fought and forced the terrorists to withdraw due to the troop’s superior firepower.”

He added that during the encounter, five terrorists were killed, while the officers recovered fabricated Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), gun truck, an anti-aircraft gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, PKT gun, General Purpose Machine gun and six AK-47 rifles and 311 rounds of ammunition.

Onyeuko also said on November 8, 2020, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion deployed to Special Response Area of Miyanti in Bama Council Area of Borno State, engaged Boko Haram insurgents and destroyed their hideouts, adding that a woman and three children were rescued in the operation.

MEANWHILE, the European Union (EU) and Mercy Corps have given 325 permanent shelters to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returnee families in Gwoza Council Area of Borno State, as part of the Borno Maida Early Recovery (BMER) programme that targets victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

Mercy Corps’ Communication Specialist, Grace Oguntade, in a statement in Maiduguri, disclosed that the construction of shelters was part of the social protection package for returnee households to the communities.

“With the provision of permanent shelters, the IDP returnees could rebuild and start their lives afresh under EU funded BMER programme,” she said, noting that the programme, was implemented by Mercy Corps and International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED).

Before completion of the shelters for returnees’ occupation, she said: “We conducted an assessment in November 2018 and mapped out about 1,916 displaced families in urgent need of shelter in Gwoza.

“The support of the Borno State Government through the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) was instrumental to ensuring that the community shelter design needs were met.
“Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supported the issuance of land certificates to participants, while ICEED provided solar home systems, electrical wiring and installations for the shelters.”