Nigerian troops battling Boko Haram in the north-eastern state of Borno have reportedly recorded a major success against the terrorist group.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the director of public relations in the Nigerian Army, confirmed that the terrorists were neutralized after they ran into a military ambush.
“The troops of Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) 21, on operation LAFIYA DOLE, deployed within the 21 Brigade Nigerian Army Area of Operations, at the early hours of today, Monday 4th September 2017, laid a successful ambush on suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point along Firgi- Banki Junction road, Borno state,” Usman said in a statement.
The Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) was recently inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, through the theatre commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru.
The statement did not however give the actual figure of the Boko Haram members that were killed in the ambush, but confirmed that a lot of them died while others sustained gunshot wounds.
The statement also said the troops recovered 18 bicycles, 15 bags of grains, 17 gallons of grain, five empty gallons, six cutlasses, a sword, water bottles and pairs of slippers.
The MSTs teams are reportedly highly trained and well equipped groups injected into Operation LAFIYA DOLE with the mandate of securing the Main Supply Routes (MSRs) in addition to conducting limited clearance operations.
NAIJ.com earlier reported Reuters as indicating that the Pentagon on Monday, August 28, notified the US Congress that Nigeria is set to buy 12 Super Tucano A-29 planes and weapons worth $593 million (over N200 billion).
It was specifically mentioned that Nigeria wants to utilize the planes for its fight against Boko Haram.