No fewer than fifteen members of the Boko Haram insurgents were reportedly killed during a fierce fight with troops at Jigalta village, located about 27 kilometers from Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
In a statement signed by Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator on Friday, 11th October 2019 stated that many of the terrorists escaped with severe gunshot wounds.
According to the statement which reads in part “Troops of 242 Battalion in conjunction with elements of Sector 2 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Chadian Defence Forces (CDF) yesterday 10 October, 2019 encountered a Boko Haram criminals’ ambush at Jigalta Village ahead of Marari, 27 kilometers from Monguno in Borno State while on a joint clearance operation.
The statement further stated that “The criminals laid an ambush with 5 gun trucks and an unconfirmed number of insurgents.
However, the gallant troops responsively countered the ambush and decimated the uncoordinated criminals.
Resultantly, 15 of the Boko Haram criminals were neutralized while few of them escaped with severe gunshot wounds".
The troops, according to the statement also destroyed 2 Boko Haram gun trucks while another 2 were captured.
Items recovered by the gallant troops include; 4 Dutshka Anti-Aircraft Guns, 9 AK-47 assault rifles and a sizeable cache of ammunition.
Regrettably, one soldier paid the supreme sacrifice during the crossfire that ensued while a Chadian soldier was also Wounded In Action (WIA).
After the victory, the statement informed that the Commander Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE/MNJTF, Major General Abdulmalik Biu in company of the Commander Sector 2 MNJTF (CDF), Colonel Bokhit Ali, Commander Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE Artillery Brigade Brigadier General Jamiu Jimoh and Commander 3 Military Intelligence Brigade Colonel Abubakar Mohammed visited the jubilant troops at the location of the encounter.
Additionally, Major General Abdulmalik Biu commended the efforts of the troops and conveyed the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s appreciation and commendation as well as the Force Commander MNJTF Major General Chikezie Ude’s words of encouragement to the troops.
More so, the Commander Sector 2 MNJTF (CDF) Colonel Bokhit Ali expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative effort and renewed his commitment to fighting the menace of the ISWAP/Boko Haram criminals’ insurgency together.
