Reports reaching us state that the multi-national Joint Task Force fighting insurgents in Nigeria’s north east has foiled a planned attack on communities around the Lake Chad area by terrorists believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, says a timely distress call saved the communities already besieged by terrorists in search of food.
The terrorists, who were said to be heavily armed, scampered for safety on sensing the approach of troops before they could carry out their mission, the statement read.
Arms left behind by fleeing terrorists were recovered by the troops which had started a cordon and search operation in the area, with a view to apprehending any of the terrorists that could be lurking around.
Meanwhile, Major-General Olukolade said the assault on terrorists’ enclaves in Sambisa forests and surrounding locations is continuing.
“Operational activities around Wala, Gwoza, Pulka and environs have been intensified.
“Encounters resulting from air and land strikes and an ambush of troops on patrols in the area have resulted in the death of scores of terrorists and loss of five soldiers including an officer,” he said.
The forces are gaining more ground in the counter terrorism operation in the north east that had witnessed series of attacks by the Boko Haram group, a development that had resulted in the declaration of the state of emergency in three states.
The Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, last month, ordered the troops to rid the forests in the region of terrorists and had also stressed the need for Nigeria and neighbouring countries to review treaties on border control to empower the military more in the fight against the insurgents who penetrate Nigeria through the border countries.
