By OLATUNJI OMIRIN, Maiduguri

Operation Lafiya Dole said a total of 78 persons, including 75 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters and three soldiers have been killed in an ongoing subsidiary operation in the northeast.

A press statement issued by Ag. Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, on Tuesday, said Operation Fire Ball had made some tremendous successes against the outlawed groups.

The statement said: “Sequel to the commencement of Operation FIRE BALL, a subsidiary operation under Operation LAFIYA DOLE which is meant to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists from their identified enclaves in the North East region, the operation has recorded tremendous successes within the short period from its existence with the last week of the preceding month proving to be the deadliest against the criminals.

“The troops in the various sectors of the theatre have continued to carry out their tasks relentlessly.

“The successes so far achieved wouldn’t have been possible without the sacrifice, commitment and gallantry exhibited by the well motivated troops; some of whom have paid the supreme sacrifice.

“Within this period, the troops have carried out aggressive clearance operations, ambushes, robust day and night patrols in order to finally decimate the remnants of the Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals,” he said.

He further claimed that caches of arm and ammunition were equally recovered during the operation in the last one week.

“Consequently, as a result of the aggressive offensive action carried out by the troops, several terrorists elements have been neutralized as large number of their equipment were captured while some were equally destroyed in the process.

“In this regard, a total of 75 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists were neutralized within this period.

“The captured weapons include: 6 Gun Trucks, 4 Anti Aircraft guns, 1 PKT gun, 4 General Purpose Machine Guns,1 Automatic Grenade Launcher, 1 Dushka Gun, 1 Light Machine Gun, 48 AK 47 Rifles, 1 locally made Pistol and 10 AK 47 magazines.

“Furthermore, large cache of ammunition were captured also.

“This include: 1 36 Hand Grenade, 567 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 448 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 50 Rocket Propelled Grenade bombs, 17 locally manufactured rounds, 3 shells for making Improvised Explosive Devices, 1 Smoke Grenade and 2 belts of PKT rounds.

“Other assorted non lethal items were also captured from the criminals.

“Regrettably, one officer and 2 gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while 4 other soldiers were wounded in action over the period.

“However, the wounded soldiers have since been evacuated to a military medical facility and are currently responding to treatment.

“The entire populace of the North East region are hereby assured of the Nigerian military high command determination to finally rout the remnants of BHT/ISWAP criminals from their enclaves in this zone” the statement said. (Daily Trust)

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