Troops kill three ISWAP terrorists in Lake Chad, recover weapons

Nigerian Troops

Troops kill three ISWAP terrorists in Lake Chad, recover weapons

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed three members of the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad region, the military authorities said on Friday.

Announcing the feat in a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said troops in collaboration with a hybrid force and elements of Civilian Joint Task Force, successfully overran the terrorists’ stronghold in the Lake Chad Region.

The offensive operation was conducted on Wednesday, with a fierce battle leading to the killing of three terrorists and the recovery of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, according to Nwachukwu.

Other items recovered are a truck-mounted anti-aircraft gun and a cache of arms and ammunition.

The army spokesman said the insurgents attacked the troops with a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), mortar, gun trucks, and motorbikes.

He stated that the insurgents fell under the overwhelming superior firepower of the troops, forcing them to abandon their stronghold, armaments, and equipment in disarray, adding that the operation proved to be a major setback to the insurgents, as the gallant troops neutralised three terrorists.

“Items recovered are one MRAP, one gun truck, one Dushka machine gun, one AK 47 rifle, and one locally fabricated gun.

“Troops also captured one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 273 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one pumping machine, 65 Dushka links, 48 General Purpose Machine Gun links, and three motorbikes.

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“The gallant troops are presently exploiting their success in pursuit of the routed insurgents,” the statement said.

See the statement below:

TROOPS OVERRUN BOKO HARAM/ ISWAP STRONGHOLD IN TIMBUKTU TRIANGLE, RECOVER MRAP, GUN TRUCK, CACHE OF AMMUNITION

Nigerian Army Troops in conjunction with hybrid force and element of Civilian Joint Task Force in an offensive operation conducted on Wednesday 28 February 2024, successfully overran Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ stronghold in Timbuktu triangle in the Lake Chad Region, recovering a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and a cache of arms and ammunition, after a fierce battle with the insurgents.

During the operation, insurgents attacked own troops with Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), Mortar, Gun trucks and motorbikes, but fell under the overwhelming superior fire power of the troops, forcing them to abandon their stronghold, armaments and equipment in disarray.

The operation proved to be a major setback to the insurgents, as the gallant troops neutralized three terrorists and recovered one MRAP, one gun truck, one Dushka Machine Gun, one AK 47 Rifle and one locally fabricated gun. Troops also captured one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, 273 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one Pumping machine, 65 Dushka links, 48 General Purpose Machine Gun links and three motorbikes.

The gallant troops are presently exploiting their success in pursuit of the routed insurgents.

In a separate operation, troops of the Nigerian Army conducted a fighting patrol to criminals’ hideouts in Katakpa Village inToto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. During the operation, troops neutralized one of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one Pump Action semi- automatic rifle, three AK-47 magazines and 90 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition.

The Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops for the successful operations and charged them to remain resilient and sustain the momentum of the operations.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

1 March 2024