Boko Haram fighters have shot dead an acting Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army, Major K. Yakubu, during a gun battle in the Doron Naira and Magaji areas of Borno State. The bloody encounter also left nine suspected terrorists dead.
The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said on Friday that the army officer,
said to be commanding the 401 Special Forces Brigade, was killed while
troops were conducting a clearance operation in the affected areas. The
military noted that the troops recovered one 120mm mortar base plate,
one religious book, metal links for aircraft ammunition and a roll of
copper wire abandoned by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major General John
Enenche, said, “On June 2, the combined troops of 19 Brigade and 401
Special Forces Brigade conducted a robust clearance operation at Doron
Naira and Magaji. The troops had an encounter with some Boko Haram
terrorists hibernating in the area. “The troops, through superior fire,
neutralised nine of them. They destroyed one Boko Haram gun truck as
well as captured one anti-aircraft gun, two AK-47 rifles and a large
cache of anti-aircraft ammunition.
“However, one officer paid the supreme price while one soldier was
injured in action. The injured soldier is currently receiving treatment
in our military medical facility.” The DMO added that two female Boko
Haram terrorists also surrendered to troops at the 144 Battalion
deployed in Madagali, Adamawa State, in another clearance operation.
“During the encounter at Gajinji, troops neutralised one terrorist and
arrested two adult females namely; Aishatu Manye and Kelune Mate who are
identified to be the local Boko Haram terrorist commander’s wives,”
Enenche noted.