Troops of Joint Task Force, North East (NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralized over 50 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and destroyed several of their combat equipment in a fierce counteroffensive in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

This is according to a statement on Monday signed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations.

According to the communiqué, the troops eliminated top commanders of ISWAP as well as foot soldiers.

“The gallant troops also unleashed massive destruction on the terrorists’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and several Gun Trucks,” the statement partly read.

It would be recalled, that 115 Task Force Battalion had an encounter with ISWAP terrorists in Askira Uba on November 13, 2021, during which the troops aggressively defended their location and followed up with a ferocious counter-attack.

Unfortunately, the Commander of 28 Task Force Brigade alongside three of his soldiers paid the supreme price, as they reinforced troops to defend the location.

While the battle raged, the gallant troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade, supported by the Air Component of OPHK engaged the terrorists in hot pursuit. Troops made contact with the fleeing terrorists at Leho village within Askira Uba LGA and in the encounter that ensued, troops eliminated scores of terrorists and destroyed their combat equipment.

General Nwachukwu said the equipment destroyed by troops include an MRAP vehicle and 11 Gun Trucks.

The troops also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition viz., five Gun Trucks, two Anti-Aircraft Guns, five AK 47 rifles, one HK Machine Gun, and one HK Machine Gun link.

In a related development, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion conducted dawn exploitation towards Leho village and environs, where they discovered 3 corpses of the fleeing terrorists and also recovered 2,560 rounds of 7.62mm Special and 29 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition abandoned by the terrorists.

In a separate operation, troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle and uncovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a patrol in Karawa village and Baga Fish Dam area respectively.

General Nwachukwu disclosed that the IED has been safely detonated by a team of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has led a team of the top brass of the Nigerian Army to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Commander 28 Task Force Brigade, Brig-Gen Dzarma Zirkusu on Sunday 14 November 2021, where he commiserated with families of the fallen heroes.

He has also urged the people of the North East to continue to support the ongoing counter-insurgency operations while reaffirming troops’ renewed operational readiness to aggressively confront the criminal elements.

(Channels TV)

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