The Nigerian Army on Monday said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, have eliminated scores of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno state. According to a statement released on Monday by Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, troops of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole on Saturday, 13 March 2021, were on a clearance patrol along the fringes of Lake Chad when the incident occurred. They cleared Daban Massara and Ali Sherifti villages among other settlements before they harbored for replenishment and retrofitting. The statement further said as they commenced the second phase of their operations and advancing along the kukawa – Monguno road, about 14 kilometers to their base, they sighted Boko Haram/ISWAP gun trucks and swiftly commenced pursuit with heavy fire and deft manouver.
“In the course of the hot pursuit which was aided by air cover provided by the Air Task Team of Operation Lafia Dole, several terrorists were neutralised and their gun trucks destroyed.
“Unfortunately, however, 1 officer and 3 gallant soldiers paid the supreme sacrifices while those wounded in action are currently receiving medical attention at 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment.
“Members of the public are assured that the troops are on top of the situation and working assiduously to end the insurgency and terrorism in the country in line with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff,” the statement said.
The army achieved the latest feat some hours after the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on Sunday assured Nigerians that Boko Haram will soon be history. Attahiru, who was in Yobe state to play a morale-boosting visit to the troops of Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army in Damaturu, told the soldiers that he came to assure them that Boko Haram would be ended within a reasonable period of time.