BEVERLY HILLS, May 02, (THEWILL) – Troops of the Nigeria Army fighting Boko Haram militants in Borno State have captured nine members of the sect hiding in fox holes in the state while three others were killed.
The Army also revealed that it has arrested the suspected killer of Mohammed Shuwa, a retired army Major-General.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the troops of the 22 Brigade Garrison, captured the insurgents during a clearance operation at terrorists’ hideouts of Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages.
“Following the unconducive environment that now exists for the Boko Haram terrorists in the north-eastern part of country, the remnants of the terrorists now hide in fox holes to escape the routing of the Nigerian soldiers,” he said in a statement.
“The terrorists who have been hibernating in Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages, have various dangerous weapons and have been terrorising the communities for a long time.
“But they met their waterloo on Sunday when the troop of the 22 Brigade Garrison in Operation LAFIYA DOLE cleared their hiding places in the four villages. This is in compliance with the military high command’s directive, which is to ensure that all villages and towns are cleared of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.
“During the operations three Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while 9 of them who tried hiding in foxholes and dugouts were identified and captured alive.
“Items recovered from them include 9 Dane guns, 3 machetes, 1 bow with arrows, 6 motor cycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists to ferry slaughtered cow meats to their hideouts were recovered and burnt.
“The troops also recovered 300 herds of cattle rustled by the Boko Haram terrorists from Fulani herdsmen and handed over to their rightful owners.
“Similarly, 400 persons held hostage by the terrorists were rescued and set free. It is gratifying to state that we have not sustained any casualty to own troops and equipment and troop’s morale remain very high.”
Usman, on the arrest of Shuwa’s killer added that officials of Nigerian military intelligence arrested the suspected killer of the Army Officer.
“The hardworking military intelligence have grabbed the suspected killer of Major General Mohammed Shuwa (rtd),” he said.
“The commander of third brigade will parade him and brief the press in Kano shortly.”
Shuwa, the first General Officer Commanding the 1st division of the Army, was murdered in his residence in Maiduguri, Borno State, by a suspected Boko Haram member on November 2, 2012.
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