Military Captures Armoured Vehicles, Artillery Guns from Boko Haram in Maiduguri Battle

01 Feb 2015

Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade

•As fighting intensifies in other parts of Islamists' enclave

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

In their officcial statement, the Nigerian military has said the Islamic sect, Boko Haram,  fighters that attacked Maiduguri this Sunday incurred massive casualties, with large cache of weapons captured from them.as the Nigerian troops successfully repelled them,

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade confirmed this is in a statement, saying that the terrorists attack on Maiduguri the early hours of Sunday was quickly contained.

He assured that the situation is calm as mopping up operation in the affected area is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Defence spokesman said that there are ongoing operations being coordinated under the Multinational Joint Task (MJTF) arrangement to dislodge Boko Haram from the occupied towns in Borno and Adamawa states.

He said:  "The terrorists are meant to be engaged in all fronts, including their previous safe havens and hide outs in the region".

According to Olukolade, the MJTF latest offensive is in line with the arrangement for a comprehensive and coordinated military operation with inputs by military forces in the Lake Chad Basin Commission namely Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

He also gave a hint that the terrorist positions including Bama, and possibly Gwoza and Baga are being pounded from the land and air, with mop up operations taking places in areas that have been liberated.

"The terrorists who in their disarray strayed towards Bama, Ngom, Alou, Delwa and Mafa in the night have now been effectively contained. Mopping up operation is ongoing", he said.

Consequently, the DDI disclosed that several weapons, arms and ammunition including two armoured vehicles and two artillery guns as well as 17 Hilux vehicles have been captured from the terrorists during the course of the operations.

He said that "several terrorists also died...and the affected locations have been secured and soldiers wounded are being treated.

"Patrols and pursuit of fleeing terrorists is continuing in coordination with allied forces".

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/military-captures-armoured-vehicles-artillery-guns-from-boko-haram-in-maiduguri-battle/200685/