Troops of 152 Task Force Battalion, in conjunction with the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, on Sunday, 27 June 2021 neutralised 12 Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists while attempting to infiltrate the Forward Operational Base at Bula Yobe in Borno State.
According to Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public Relations, the terrorists, who approached the Base on gun trucks and several motorcycles, attacked the location via an unsuspected crossing point, but were repelled by the vigilant troops.
“The troops sustained the fire fight and successfully neutralised 12 terrorists, with several others fleeing with gunshot wounds,” Nwachukwu said in a statement.
Two soldiers were killed in the firefight, while five others sustained varying degrees of injury.
Nwachukwu said the troops captured one Gun Truck, one Self-Propelled Gun-9, one Dushika Gun and one mounted QJC Machine Gun.
Other items captured are one Light Machine Gun and five AK-47 rifles.
According to him, the injured soldiers have been evacuated by the Air Component of OPHK to a medical facility where they are currently receiving medical attention.
He added that the general area within Forward Operational Base, Bula, “is cool and calm under the control of troops of the battalion,” while further exploitation by the resilient troops is ongoing.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Faruk Yahaya, has lauded the land troops and the air component for their synergy and quick response.
He charged the troops to maintain the tempo and vehemently hold their ground, to deny the terrorists freedom of action.