The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said troops of Operation Desert Sanity III have captured a stronghold of the Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province in Borno State.
The Army reported that both air and ground units of the operation conducted a clearance mission, targeting the terrorist stronghold situated along Ngumne, Kawaran, and Mangu axis within the Sambisa Forest and Timbuktu Triangle.
A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the troops were engaged in a fierce battle with terrorists who used Improvised Explosive Devices on them.
Onyema, however, said they were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops.
The statement read, “In a major victory against terrorism, Nigerian Army troops have successfully overrun a Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province stronghold in Borno State. The intense offensive is part of Operation Desert Sanity III, involving a combination of artillery and air bombardments, as well as ground battle along the Ngumne, Kawaran, and Mangu Axis in the Sambisa Forest and Timbuktu Triangle.
“Despite facing threats of improvised explosive devices and resistance from the terrorists, troops engaged them with heavy firepower, rooting out the terrorists from their stronghold. ”
He noted that after the operation, the troops recovered two gun trucks among others and destroyed the terrorist’s camp.
Onyema said, “As a result of the successful operation, the gallant troops recovered vital armaments and other equipment, including two gun trucks, a 105mm Pack Howitzer, two exploded improvised explosive device cases, and a burnt Rocket-Propelled Grenade tube. The enclaves were also destroyed by the troops.
“This audacious operation demonstrates the Nigerian Army’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of the region. The recovery of heavy artillery and gun trucks marks a significant setback for the terrorists.”
The PUNCH Online troops across various theatres of operations in the country in separate operations recovered a total of 66,692 arms and ammunition from non-state actors between January and April 2024.
A breakdown of the figures revealed that a total of 3,117 dangerous arms and 63,575 ammunition were captured by troops.