BEVERLY HILLS, May 15, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of a wanted Boko Haram leader, Sulaiman Umaru, in Sambisa forest, the sect’s fortress.
This was disclosed by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, who revealed that Umaru was arrested at about 1.35pm on Friday by troops from the 143 Battalion.
Umaru, one of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists whose photographs were displayed in a poster launched a few months back, has been moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters for investigation.
Usman also revealed that said troops of 21 Brigade and Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) on Operation Crackdown inside Sambisa forest were attacked by Boko Haram militants at about 1.45am yesterday.
The troops however repelled the attack and followed up with mopping up operations of the general area before advancing.
“Unfortunately five soldiers were wounded in action, as a result of mortar fired into the harbour area by the Boko Haram terrorists,” Usman said.
“The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to the rear for treatment.”
Meanwhile, the army said the troops from 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village south east of Dikwa.
Seven soldiers were injured in the incident, while four fighters from the Civilian JTF who accompanied the troops also sustained injuries.
The injured soldiers and their civilian counterparts have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services, Maiduguri.
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