Army kills 20 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

The Seven Division of the Nigerian Army said it has killed 20 suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri after an operation on Gwoza-Bita road. It said the area has witnessed attacks on civilians in recent times.

The spokesman for the division, Lt.-Col. Muhammad Dole, said this in a statement on Saturday.

The statement read, “In the late hours of Friday, November 15, troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, launched an offensive operation along Gwoza-Bita-Damboa road, where suspected Boko Haram militants were flushed out.

“Bita town is believed to be a Boko Haram stronghold, from where the terrorists launched attacks on isolated villages and motorists along the road to Gwoza and Damboa.

“During the encounter, 20 suspected Boko Haram militants were killed, while scores of vehicles and 50 motorcycles were destroyed.

“A soldier was killed and three other soldiers were wounded in the operation.”

Dole said soldiers were still pursuing the fleeing members of the Boko Haram group.

“The troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, are aggressively pursuing the fleeing insurgents in the general areas of Bita and Sambisa Forest,” he added.

He said the General Officer Commanding of the division, Maj.-Gen. Obidah Ethan, appealed to the general public to provide the division with credible information concerning the movement of the fleeing insurgents.*