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Military Takes Over Baga, Clears Mines
As the military onslaught on the Boko Haram terrorists continues, Baga, and 15 communities in Borno State have been cleared of the insurgents, even as 1500 mine spots have been unearthed by the troops.
A statement issued by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade, in Abuja, Saturday revealed that “ heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force” has compelled the terrorists to flee the town and all other settlements en route a relatively larger town just before the Lake Chad.
He said,”A comprehensive cordon-and-search phase of military operation has now commenced to enable troops mop up arms and ammunition and also apprehend any terrorist who might be hiding in the vicinity.”
The military also said a large number of terrorists have drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force heralding the advance of Nigerian troops on mission to flush them out of Baga, he added
“Many of the terrorists died while an unknown but substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury, in the series of encounter as troops headed for Baga.”
Olukolade said the terrorists had devised the strategy of laying land mines on the way to their locations, but the experts among the troops were a step ahead as not less than 1500 mines were dictated and removed, to clear the way for the brave troops as they penetrated the towns.
According to him, “Not even the strategy of mining over 1,500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops. All the land mines were skillfully cleared, one after the other. Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town.”
It further stated that the military destroyed a good number of weapons used in the operation by the insurgents. “Apart from the five anti-aircraft guns and the rifles captured from the terrorists, over 34 motorcycles and five vehicles, including trucks being used for operations by the terrorists, were destroyed in the course of the fighting, as troops headed for Baga. The troops finally began clearing the terrorists from Baga on arrival in the town early yesterday morning.
A cordon and search is being carried out by the troops around the areas, to which the DDI said the “exercise will also determine details of the casualties inflicted or incurred in the course of the operations to clear Baga and other areas occupied by the terrorists.
“Similar exercise is being carried out in over 15 locations, namely Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa, Kangarwa, Amirari, Kichimatari, Borokari Barati, Kauwa and other localities where troops have flushed out the terrorists in the operations preceding the entry to Baga. The troops are now dominating and conducting aggressive patrols in the locations. The morale of troops remain high,” the statement reads.
