Military authorities in Borno State on Monday said suspected Boko Haram terrorists had fled their camps in Bitta and Damboa axis in the state.
Colonel Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, the military formation against the insurgency, made this known in a statement in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Gusau said the insurgents fled their area on Sunday on sighting Nigerian troops advancing towards the locations, adding that in fleeing, the terrorists abandoned food items they had looted earlier and personal effects.
He said in the statement: “In furtherance to ongoing operations to clear Boko Haram activities in the North-East, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade on Sunday conducted clearance and confidence-building operations in Bale, along Bitta and Damboa Axis.
“The Boko Haram terrorists on sighting the advancing troops toward their location, fled in disarray abandoning looted food items and other personal effects, including a grinding machine, dane guns and bicycles.”
Gusau said troops had continued to dominate the terrorists, clearing their camps, adding that the troops were denying the insurgents freedom of action and frustrated their “intents and acts”.
Gusau said the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Yusha’u Abubakar, had lauded the performance of the troops and urged them to set themselves towards achieving the deadline for ending insurgency.
“The troops are in high spirit and their fighting efficiency remains very high,” Gusau said.
NAN.