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| Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai |
Nigeria’s military on Wednesday said
regional troops had recaptured a town on the shores of Lake Chad from
Boko Haram, but the Islamists claimed to have inflicted heavy
casualties, the AFP has reported.
regional troops had recaptured a town on the shores of Lake Chad from
Boko Haram, but the Islamists claimed to have inflicted heavy
casualties, the AFP has reported.
The Acting Director, Army Public
Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who confirmed the clash, said that several
of the insurgents were killed in the ongoing operation.
Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who confirmed the clash, said that several
of the insurgents were killed in the ongoing operation.
According to him, the troops were able
to overpower the insurgents at Mallam Fatori during the operation, which
also involved the fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force.
to overpower the insurgents at Mallam Fatori during the operation, which
also involved the fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force.
Usman said that the terrorists left the area and had gathered around the nation’s border with Niger.
He said, “As part of Operation Gama
Aiki, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force
captured Mallam Fatori in the northern part of Borno State, after a
fierce battle closely covered by air operations.
Aiki, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force
captured Mallam Fatori in the northern part of Borno State, after a
fierce battle closely covered by air operations.
“However, the terrorists reinforced around the border with Niger Republic.
“This was while the troops were
consolidating on this success. The troops killed several of the Boko
Haram terrorists in the resulting encounter and subsequently had to
withdraw to a vantage position. The operation continues.”
consolidating on this success. The troops killed several of the Boko
Haram terrorists in the resulting encounter and subsequently had to
withdraw to a vantage position. The operation continues.”
Usman said its troops and counterparts
from the Multinational Joint Task Force had “captured Mallam Fatori…
after a fierce battle” backed by air support.
from the Multinational Joint Task Force had “captured Mallam Fatori…
after a fierce battle” backed by air support.
But “the terrorists reinforced around
(the) border with Niger… while the troops were consolidating on this
success,” he added in an emailed statement.
(the) border with Niger… while the troops were consolidating on this
success,” he added in an emailed statement.
Mallam Fatori, in Borno State, was
liberated in March last year as part of a regional counter-offensive
against the Islamists, who had captured swathes of territory in
north-eastern Nigeria in 2014.
liberated in March last year as part of a regional counter-offensive
against the Islamists, who had captured swathes of territory in
north-eastern Nigeria in 2014.
But fighters from Boko Haram, which is
affiliated to the Islamic State group and now calls itself Islamic State
West Africa Province, reoccupied the town after troops left.
affiliated to the Islamic State group and now calls itself Islamic State
West Africa Province, reoccupied the town after troops left.
The MNJTF is made up of soldiers from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.
Northern Borno State, which is near the border with Niger, is inaccessible because of insecurity with Boko Haram.
There have been an increasing number of
attacks in south-eastern Niger in recent weeks, an indication that
rebels have re-grouped and switched focus.
attacks in south-eastern Niger in recent weeks, an indication that
rebels have re-grouped and switched focus.
Boko Haram claimed its fighters, which it dubbed “the cavalry of the caliphate”, attacked the regional force.
Source: Punch Newspapers
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