An unspecified number of suspected members of dreaded sect, Boko Haram, and three civilians were killed on Monday when soldiers attached to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Monguno, Borno State clashed with the insurgents.
Spokesman for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement on Monday that the security forces ran into the insurgents on the Bama-Banki Expressway where they were robbing motorists.
Musa said in the statement: “At about 1135 hours on 13th September, 2013, some troops of Banki Forward Operating Base (BFOB) on a mission of 202 Battalion Bama, on their way back to Banki, a border town with Cameroun Republic encountered some Boko Haram terrorists along Bama-Banki road carrying out armed robbery activities on innocent traders and travellers.
“The terrorists had killed three passengers and collected unspecified amount of cash and food items during the robbery incident. Consequently, several terrorists also lost their lives during the chanced encounter with the troops.
“Similarly, intelligence available to the 7 Division indicated that in desperation to survive, the Boko Haram Terrorists have written a letter to Dikwa Market/Traders demanding N1 million to enable them purchase food items and other logistical requirements or be ready to face their wrath.”
Musa said the operation by the Nigerian Army and other security forces to totally dislodge the insurgents would be sustained, especially in the rural communities of Bama, Damboa, Gajiram.
He said most of the insurgents have been uprooted from their bases, with the remnants now the focus of the operation.
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