Security forces kill 63 insurgents in Borno Nigeria

The men of the Nigerian Army have killed 63 insurgents in two different encounters in Borno State.

Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail on Monday that the insurgents were killed at Alafa Forests, 21 kilometres from Bama, the scene of the gruesome attack by the Boko Haram two weeks ago; and Lake Chad Islands.

The defence spokesman said that while 56 insurgents were killed at Alafa, seven lost their lives to another military offensive at the Lake Chad Islands.

Olukolade also said that two soldiers sustained injuries in the two attacks put in place to track fleeing insurgents in the area...

He said that the military authorities had carried out ground and aerial assaults on the insurgents following intelligence report that they were making efforts to establish new camps in the forest.

According to him, the operation, which he said has resulted in heavy casualty and material loss on the side of the insurgents, is still ongoing.

The statement read in part, “Nigerian security forces have launched ground and air operations on terrorists’ locations in the Forest at ALAFA, about 21km from Bama, Borno State.

“Over 56 terrorists died in the ensuing intensive fight over the weekend. Two soldiers were wounded in the operation which is meant to track fleeing terrorists.

“Acting on intelligence reports, which indicated renewed efforts by the terrorists to establish a new camp in the forests locations, the land and air operations have inflicted heavy casualty on the insurgents as indicated by the high level of their loss of men and materials.

“Air and land bombardments are continuing in different locations where terrorists have been reportedly sighted.”