Troops foil Boko Haram attack in Borno, two vehicles burnt

FG leveraging digital tech to tackle insecurity
Army inaugurates special welfare for fighters in N’East

Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in the North East, foiled an early morning attack on Damboa town by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Sunday.

The criminals, according to army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, made a futile effort to infiltrate the town, but were stopped by heavy volume of fire from the vigilant troops.

While attempting to infiltrate the town with unconfirmed number of foot soldiers, some on motorcycles, the terrorists suffered debilitating gunshot wounds from the troops’ fire, forcing them to beat a retreat in disarray.

The troops, The Guardian gathered, are currently on the trail of the fleeing terrorists.

According to Nwachukwu, unfortunately, in the exchange of fire that ensued, two vehicles belonging to the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were burnt.

The army high command commended the troops for their vigilance and swift response in the attack. They were also encouraged not to allow any form of distraction from the marauding terrorists, whose ranks have suffered enormous depletion in manpower as a result of ongoing air and artillery bombardments.

Law-abiding people of North East Nigeria are assured of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)’s determination to finally rout the Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals from their hideouts.

MEANWHILE, the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.), has said that government is leveraging digital technology for enhanced national security architecture.

Magashi, in his remark at the Course 29 graduation lecture of the National Defence College, Abuja, assured that the overall interest of government under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was to enhance security of life and property.

He added that Nigerians needed to appreciate the effort of government to emplace collective security.
ALSO, the COAS, Lt-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has inaugurated a special welfare flight for troops of OPHK fighting terrorism in the North East.

While flagging off the special flights at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base, yesterday, he said the welfare package was part of his plans for troops in the counter-insurgency operations.

“This special welfare flights are to ease troops’ travels and movements to their respective families in the country.

“It has been on me to find ways to ease movements for the gallant troops that are committed and dedicated to their job,” he said.

The Chief of Operations, Army, Maj-Gen. Olabanji Akinjobi, said the flight would be conducted twice a month with Maiduguri, Abuja and Lagos as destinations.