The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Hadin Kai have degraded operational capabilities of Boko Haram and Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, stated this while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military across the country on Thursday in Abuja.
Onyeuko said the troops had intensified the onslaught on the terrorists within the theatre and denied them freedom of action.
He said that while on clearance and fighting patrols, troops engaged some of the terrorist elements with superior firepower and subdued them at Daushe Village along Ngoshe-Ashigashiya Road and Yarchida and Wurrajabbe general areas of Borno.
“In same vein troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attack on security operatives between Jakana and Auno and forced the terrorists to flee in disarray.
“During the encounters, scores of the terrorists were neutralized and large caches of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, RPG guns and bags of assorted rounds of ammunition as well as other equipment, gun trucks and vehicles were recovered.
“Troops also intercepted and arrested several terrorists and their logistics vehicles loaded with large quantities of assorted supplies.
“Additionally, within the period, several of the BHT/ISWAP’s wives and children surrendered to own troops at Banki LGA following the heavy operational activities of the troops,” he said.
Onyeuko said that the troops had on July 2 neutralised some elements of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist crossing Damaturu – Maiduguri road in 3 Gun trucks and rescued some civilians who were attacked and abducted.
According to him, a NAF Mi-35 helicopter was dispatched to the location and engaged the terrorists, destroying their Gun trucks with most of its occupants.
“Other fleeing terrorists were neutralised by the ground troops during mop-up operation and recovered some weapons as well,” he said.
