A highly placed military source, who
disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja,
described the raid as a major victory against the insurgents.
It was learnt that the raid, which began
on Saturday, consisted of both attack by land troops and aerial
bombardment by the air force.
The raid was said to have been made possible as a result of intelligence reports and air reconnaissance operations in the area.
The source described Yaurakura as a
major stronghold of the insurgents and that the area also served as an
escape route on water.
The source said that the troops also seized several arms and ammunition from the Boko Haram fighters.
Among the items said to have been seized
from the insurgents were sub- machine guns, BMG machine guns, rifles,
rocket propelled bombs and assorted ammunitions as well as four vehicles
said to be laden with Improvise Explosive Devices.
The source said, “The troops captured a
stronghold of the terrorists at Yaurakura, Bagudu Island of Lake Chad
and about 20 of them were killed while many were wounded.
“The arms seized from them include sub
machine guns, rifles, rocket propelled bombs, assorted ammunitions,
five speed boats, a welding machine and four vehicles. The vehicles
were loaded with IEDS.”
Director of Defence Information, Brig.
Gen Chris Olukolade, said that the Special Forces would continue the
raids on the camps of the insurgents and would not allow them operate
any base in and around the country.
He said that the main focus of the
ongoing military raids was to ensure that the insurgents were prevented
from establishing or reactivating any camp in the country.
“The onslaught against the terrorists is
continuing in every direction, they will not be allowed to operate any
base in Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of
Nigeria on Wednesday raised the alarm over the continued killing of
Christians in the north by members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
The association in a communiqué issued
at the end of its Special Meeting in Abuja and signed by its General
Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake, expressed worries that despite the state of
emergency declared in the North-Eastern part of the country to curtail
insurgency, the attacks on Christians had continued unabated.
The communique reads in part, “On the
3rd of this month at about 8pm, Boko Haram members attacked Ngoshe
village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and killed eight
Christians: Baba Ayuba, Baba Bitrus and Baba Isa Biyabra, the security
guard and four others whose names we are yet to get.
“They burnt 11 houses owned by the
Christians and three churches: EYN church, Deeper Life Bible Church and
the Redeemed Christian Church of God. We were informed that when the
Christian community sought to meet the state governor on this issue, he
said he does not have the time to see them until February next year.”
PUNCH NG
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