Terrorist group, Boko Haram has claimed the killing of a soldier at the Nigerian Army base in Yobe State.
CONVERSEER learned that the terrorist group backed by the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, carried out the attack on Saturday morning.
The ISWAP in a statement claimed that the soldier was killed during the attack on a military base in Gujba town, Gujba Local Government Area of the state.
The group noted that it burnt two military operational vehicles at the military base, which is about 30 kilometres away from the state capital, Damaturu.
Part of the statement read: “An attack targeted a Nigerian army barracks, in the town of Gujba in the Yobe area, using various weapons, killing one member and making the others run away, and then burning two vehicles, and taking a heavy machine gun and a medium one and ammunitions.”
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The ISWAP has been tightening its grip in and around Lake Chad, and since the killing of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, the sect’s membership has multiplied with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau.
In a statement on Saturday, the Nigerian Army said it is relentless in its effort to wipe out ISWAP and its JAS counterpart in North East Nigeria.
The statement which was signed by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, Nigerian Army, said, “In an aggressive clearance patrol conducted on Friday, 22 March 2024, by a Combat Team (CT) of the Division, troops successfully cleared 6 villages where terrorists hibernated with their hostages.
“During the operation, the CT came in contact with the terrorists and fiercely engaged them in a gun battle, eliminating 5 of the terrorists. The valiant troops also rescued 78 persons, comprising 35 women and 43 children held hostage by the terrorists.
“The enclaves and villages cleared by the CT include Ngurusoye, Sabon Gari, Mairamri 1 and 2, Bula Dalo, and Bula Dalo extension. Other areas also cleared are Yamanci and Gargaji general areas. Items recovered are one terrorists’ flag, a mobile phone belonging to the terrorists. The rescued victims are in custody for preliminary investigation and profiling.
“The troops have continued to maintain momentum in the ongoing Operations Desert Sanity III to rid the North East of terrorists and insurgents.”
