Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, at the weekend, killed scores of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, the Nigerian Army said in a statement on Monday.
Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, the Director, Army Public Relations, in the statement, said the encounters between troops and terrorists occurred on Saturday on the Tumbus of Lake Chad’s fringes.
Yerima said the troops were advancing along the Kukawa–Monguno Road, about 14 kilometres to their base, when they sighted terrorists’ gun trucks and swiftly commenced pursuit with heavy fire and deft manoeuvre.
According to him, the encounters led to the destruction of terrorists’ gun trucks and the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
Four soldiers reportedly died in the gun battle.
The statement read, “In the course of the hot pursuit which was aided by air cover provided by the Air Task Team of Operation Lafia Dole, several terrorists were neutralised and their gun trucks destroyed.
“Unfortunately, however, one officer and three gallant soldiers paid the supreme sacrifices while those wounded in action are currently receiving medical attention at 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment.
“Above is an on-the-spot account of the encounter between Nigerian troops and the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Mugono area and environs,” the statement said.
