By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, led by the General Officer Commanding of the Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, conducted a decisive clearance operation into the remnants of Boko Haram strategic hub town of Chukungudu on the southern fringes of the Lake Chad Region, northern parts of Borno State between Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November 2016.
This information was disclosed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the manoeuvring Brigade led by 3 Battalion of 22 Brigade, successfully cleared Geram, Bulankassa and Chukungudu believed to be the Boko Haram terrorists’ stronghold in that area.
Col Usman added that the gallant troops rescued 85 people, comprising of mostly women and children held hostage by insurgents.
Similarly, they neutralized five Boko Haram terrorists’ fighters in a fierce encounter that made several of the terrorists running into the Lake Chad waters.
He also said the troops recovered 4 rounds of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, 1 Double Barrel Gun, 349 packets containing various rounds of ammunitions, 3 Magazines, a link belt of machine gun ammunition and 1 AK-47 rifle magazine.
During the clearance operations, the troops made spectacular discovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory at Geram.
In the factory, they found several already primed suicide bombers’ vests. They also discovered a well-equipped motor vehicles and motorcycles’ workshop and spare parts where house at Chukungudu village.
The troops recovered 3 vehicles and several newly acquired motorcycles.
Unfortunately, a soldier died during the encounter, he said.
According to him, in line with Rules of Engagement, IED factory, vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed.
Adedapo Adesanya