Military kills 16 Boko Haram terrorists, arrests two others

Troops of 3 Battalion of Nigerian Army have killed 16 Boko Haram terrorists with the arrest of two others on Saturday; in an ambush at Rann in Kala/Balge council area of Borno state.

The troops also recovered arms and ammunition, used in the ambush of soldiers at the Nigerien border town of Rann.
Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman disclosed this on Sunday in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri.

He said during the fierce gun battle with the terrorists, two soldiers, however, lost their lives along with the injuring of five others.

The statement reads: “The terrorists came with Motorcycles Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (MCBIED), Anti-Aircraft Guns and other weapons at about 5pm and the exchange of fire lasted for some hours before they were overwhelmed by the troops’ firepower.”

He, however, noted that one of the terrorists’ suicide bomber detonated himself at a gun truck; killing the driver and the gunner. The truck and the mounted weapon were also damaged beyond repairs.

He said the troops killed seven terrorists, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. On how other terrorists were killed, Usman said: “During clearance operation this morning, the troops discovered nine more Boko Haram terrorists’ dead bodies in the surrounding areas, bring the total number killed to 16.”

He said the troops also recovered a general purpose machine gun,rocket propelled grenade, ammunition and captured two other terrorists alive.

In a related development, Usman said that the troops also discovered and safely detonated two IEDs planted along Gambouru-Rann road. He explained that the IEDs were planted yesterday to prevent troops’ reinforcement to Rann, while the ambush lasted.

He said that despite the incident, the morale of troops continues to remain high with the ongoing clearance military operations in northern Borno.