Authorities
in the Army on Thursday said that six soldiers were killed when troops of the
Multinational Joint Task Force engaged Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists within
the vicinity of Mallam Fatori town in the fringes of the Lake Chad region.
The terrorists,
however, did not go unscathed as troops killed 22 members of the sect.
A statement by the
spokesman of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Colonel Muhammad Dole,
disclosed that the operation, code-named SHARAN FAGE with troops drawn from
Sector 3 Monguno (Nigeria) and Sector 4 Diffa (Niger Republic), was heavily
supported by Operation HADIN KAI (Nigeria) who targeted Boko Haram/ISWAP
criminal terrorists hibernating in the vicinity of Mallam Fatori town.
According to the
statement, the troops met strong resistance from the terrorists, who launched
several mortar attacks, laid Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the
troops’ route of advance and further attacks with Vehicle Borne Improvised
Explosive Devices (VBIEDs).
However, the troops
brought superior firepower to bear on the insurgents forcing them to abandon
their enclaves.
During the exchange
of fire, Colonel Dole said that 22 Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized
during the operation, while five of their gun trucks, five motorcycles and
several logistic bunkers were destroyed and eight AK47 Rifles also recovered
from the terrorists.
Sadly, Colonel Dole
noted that six members of the Joint Task Force including two officers and four
other ranks from both Nigeria and the Niger Republic paid the supreme sacrifice
in the line of duty with about 16 others wounded in action.
He further revealed
that 17 suspects were arrested in the general area of operations and are being
profiled.
