Attempts by terrorists to attack Ajiri and Mafa as well as other communities on the outskirts of Maiduguri and Dikwa in Borno State towards the Cameroon borders have been foiled, the military said on Thursday.
The attacks were launched on Thursday.
The ambush mounted by the terrorists to enable them unleash terror on the communities unchallenged, was also cleared by troops on reinforcement mission, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said on Thursday.
Olukolade said the arms captured from the terrorists included various brands of machine guns and improvised explosive devices.
Twenty insurgents, the Defence Headquarters said, died in the encounter, while the military sustained varying degree of injuries.
Also, more terrorists camps were destroyed in encounters at various forests and mountain locations around Adamawa and Borno States, the statement said.
Olukolade added: “Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has noted with grave concern the inflammatory pronouncements by some highly placed persons in government and some apparently sponsored commentators in and outside the country who have consistently given false and misleading remarks to describe the disposition of troops in the ongoing operations. It has become clear that this sustained campaign is intended to demoralize the troops and give impression that the military is overwhelmed by the terrorist group. This tendency is unfortunate to say the least.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, it is hereby restated that the Nigerian military cannot by any standard be overwhelmed by the insurgents neither will the devious antics of their sympathisers and sponsors demoralize the fighting spirit of troops. Nigerians and indeed all well-wishers are enjoined to discountenance the propaganda messages of the terrorists and their backers alleging the inability of Nigerians troops to handle the insurgency.”
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