Boko Haram terrorists, today, Saturday, launched attacks on the Nigerian soldiers, wounded five in Sambisa forest, Borno state but were defeated with two of their men killed.
The attack came while on soldiers were harbour inside the forest.
Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, in a statement in Abuja said that the troops comprised elements of 21 Brigade and the Armed Forces Special Forces on “Operation Crack Down.”
Colonel Usman said that the troops while on harbour for refitting and were attacked by Boko Haram terrorists at about 1:45am today, Saturday.
He said that the troops launched counter attack with mopping up operations of the general area before advancing further into the forest, saying that two corpses of the terrorists, two AK-47 rifles, two Rocket Propelled Grenade bombs, five rifle magazines, mortar bombs and belts of Machine Gun rounds were recovered from the terrorists.
He added that five soldiers were wounded as a result of mortar fired into the harbour area by the Boko Haram terrorists and were evacuated to the rear for treatment.
Colonel Usman said that troops operating deep inside the Sambisa forest have arrested one of the Boko Haram leaders who was declared wanted by the military.
According to him, the suspect was arrested at about 1.35pm on Friday by troops of 143 Battalion.
He said that the suspect was moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters for further investigation.
Colonel Usman said that troops of 21 Brigade have intensified clearance operations at Yerimari, while troops of 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison has also embarked on patrols along Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri Road.
He said that the same unit in conjunction with some elements of 112 Task Force Battalion conducted a fighting patrol along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana Road.
The Army spokesman said that the patrol team had earlier intercepted 31 Internally Displaced Persons, including women and children, coming from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and Mane-Gana villages.
He said that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the IDPs, Abacha Bulama, a native of Mane-Gana, was in possession of N1.9 million, adding that though the suspect claimed to be a businessman, his possession of such large amount of money arose suspicion and was being interrogated.
He added that troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade also carried out clearance operations at Guduf Buba, Yagwa, Gamude, Kwatara Kasa and Kwatara Tsakiya villages.
Colonel Usman said that a number of clearances and mop up operations were ongoing simultaneously across the theatre to rid the general area of the presence of the insurgents.
He said that due to increased security, the theatre had witnessed increased humanitarian activities by various government and non-governmental agencies.
NAN. [myad]