Nigerian Army has confirmed Boko Haram fighters’ attack on Damasak town in Borno State.
Army’s Director of public relations, Mohammed Yerima in a statement on Sunday, said ground troops, supported by the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), however, thwarted the attack by the insurgents.
READ ALSO: Two Bullets Extracted From Oba Adetutu Ajayi’s Body
The insurgents who were said to be on a mission to loot foodstuff from humanitarian facilities in the town in Mobbar Local Government Area of the state, attacked Damasak on Saturday.
They targeted international aid facilities and set them ablaze during the incident which was reported to have lasted hours.
Yerima said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower – both from the air and on the ground.
According to him, this forced the insurgents to withdraw in disarray with several men and equipment casualties in the process.
The Army Spokesman said, “Sadly, two gallant soldiers have paid the supreme price while one officer and two soldiers were injured.
“The injured are currently recuperating at a military hospital in Maiduguri.”
Yerima added that elsewhere, troops of Sector 1 on picketing duty along road Ngwom-Mafa to Maiduguri killed seven Boko Haram members on Sunday.
READ ALSO: Covid-19: Nigeria Records 57 New Cases, No Deaths As Infection Hits 163,793
According to him, the insurgents were supposedly lying in wait to attack the troops and other innocent citizens plying the busy road.
He explained:
“In the encounter, seven terrorists were neutralised while four AK-47 rifles were recovered along with several other items.
“The terrorists laid the ambush with the intent to harm NA troops and other innocent commuters. They, however, ran out of luck as they were instead trapped and neutralised in their own web.”
“After the duel and successful neutralisation of the terrorists, the troops continued their clearance patrol up to Maiduguri.”
Yerima reteirated the soldiers commitments to maintain an aggressive posture to ensure the entire area is cleared of terrorists and their activities while maintaining high morale and fighting efficiency.
© ControlTV 2021.
