At least 20 insurgents were killed Friday as Nigeria’s military carried out an aerial bombardment of suspected militant Islamist camps in the country’s northeast, a Defence Ministry spokesman told the CNN.
The raid by Nigerian Air Force jets and attack helicopters is part of what the military says is a “massive deployment” of Nigerian forces this week to tackle insurgent groups, including Boko Haram.
“Our military has overrun a number of the militants’ camps in north and central Borno state,” said defence spokesman Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade.
“Within those insurgents’ camps, we discovered that they have been storing sophisticated, high-calibre weapons including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.”
Members of the armed forces have suffered only minor injuries, according to Olukolade.
“The operation continues, we are injecting even more troops and resources into those areas,” he added.
The military operation was announced Wednesday, a day after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The president blamed “terrorists” aimed at “rebellion” who have caused “fear among our citizens and a near breakdown of law and order in parts of the country.”
He also noted a rise of insurgent violence in eight other states, including Nasarawa, where scores of police officers were killed last week.
“Insurgents and terrorists,” including Boko Haram, are trying to destabilise Nigeria, Jonathan said.
“The military operation will focus on tracking down criminal elements within the vicinity of border communities prone to terrorist activities,” Olukolade said Wednesday. He did not confirm the number of troops deployed or which units are involved in the military operation.
Much violence over recent years has been blamed on Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege.”
According to Human Rights Watch, the group has killed more than 2,800 people in an escalating campaign to impose strict Islamic law on largely Muslim northern Nigeria.
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THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THIS COUNTRY LIES IN RIGHTEOUS,LOVE,JUSTICE AND SINCERITY.MAY GOD HELP US.
ReplyDeleteGood job nigerian soldier God will bless u guy
ReplyDeleteRide on JTF,it's blood 4 blood!
ReplyDeleteI love dat pls keep moving God will hand B/H over to d military
ReplyDeleteAny one who believes in, supports, protects and promotes the philosophy of Boko Haram is a demon in human form. Please, do not mind what some of our so-called elders are saying. They are merely being hypocritical. The truth is that Boko Haram has kidnapped or killed some of them and their relatives. May Allah protect our President as well as the soldiers who are fighting to remove this torn from the flesh of Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteSome people parade themselves as the sole representatives of the Northern Elders or Youths, to give the false impression that every Northern elder or youth supports Boko Haram. This is fallacy. Speaking on behalf of majority of Northerners, we hereby condemn terrorism in all its ramifications.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks that he or she can break up Nigeria, through terrorism, is merely wasting his or her time. Nigeria has come stay.
ReplyDeleteFellow Nigerians, when the Igbos wanted to secede in the late sixties, the Government and good people of Nigeria stopped them. Today, how does Boko Haram and those that support them think that the Federal Government will simply fold its arms and watch them destroy Nigeria in the name of secession?
ReplyDeletethe only problem we had is not the issue of combating boko haram, but their leaders, politician behind them and countries selling weapons to them, all must be brought behind the law of the land, we are nigerian we are great people, we love one another, we are families but not killer
ReplyDeleteWell done soldiers! But pray, give us pictures of the conquered fools and their weapons! Lets be sure and encouraged that what you are telling us is truth. Afterall, this is war!
ReplyDeleteGood work by the troops but remember that the battle we are fighting is not dat of flesh and blood but of spirit being...
ReplyDeleteDon't all be deceived! Dis picture nigeriaeye used is the pictured of the troops deployed to mali. Nigeriaeye can't fool us. BH insugence abd activities must come to an end.. Sparrow
ReplyDeleteWell done to Nigerian troops combating insurgents and Boko Haran in Northern Nigeria they nearly tore this country apart. Go ahead with your good work ,God/Alla/Chineke, Akwa Abasi Ibom bless u all.
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