The Defence authorities have said that the
troops of the Nigerian Army have captured the
Balmo Forest, believed to be one of the major
hideouts of insurgents in the North-East.
The Balmo Forest links Borno, Bauchi and
Adamawa states and it is said to host some of
the training programmes of the insurgents.
The Defence authorities said in some tweets
posted on the twitter handle of the military on
Tuesday that 20 insurgents were killed with an
unspecified number injured in the fierce
encounter to capture the fortified forest.
It was stated that the special forces recovered
some rifles and motorcycles during the raid on
Balmo and an adjoining Lame forest.
It was further stated in another tweet that the
soldiers carried out a separate raid on Hildi,
Adamawa State and recovered “some documents,
including sketches , list of communities
apparently slated for attack.”
According to the tweet, the special forces also
killed seven insurgents and recovered five rifles,
hundreds of rounds of ammunition, bow and
arrows from the fleeing insurgents in the Hildi
operation.
It added that six of the soldiers, who were
injured in the attack, were being treated.
It said that the military was conducting the
operation against the insurgents on the land and
in the air in various fronts.
The tweets read, “The campaign against
terrorists’ activities is continuing with air and
land operations being conducted in various
theatres in parts of the country.
“A total of six soldiers were wounded in the
encounter; troops have eventually taken control
of Lame Forest location. Over 20 terrorists lost
their lives in this encounter while some were
reported wounded.
“Troops recovered a number of rifles and
motorcycles after a stiff resistance by terrorists
was rushed….”
In a related development, troops of the Nigerian
Army on Tuesday locked down Gombi Local
Government Area of Adamawa State following an
attack on a village in the area known as Ganda.
A security source said that the soldiers killed a
very large number of the insurgents during the
fierce encounter with the insurgents in the early
hours of Tuesday.
The source said that the troops, who were
deployed in large number for the operation,
imposed a no-movement order on Gombi to
prevent the fleeing insurgents from escaping.
The movement restriction was said to be in
force until 2pm on Tuesday, when it was relaxed.
The security source said that the intensified
operation in Adamawa State had resulted in
serious cash scarcity and sufferings in the area.
It was stated that all the banks in the area, from
Madagali, Gombi, Michika, Mubi and other major
towns in Adamawa State had been closed down
to avoid being raided by the insurgents
It was stated that indigenes of the area could
only go to Yola to withdraw funds.
The source said, “You know that things are very
difficult here; all the banks have closed shop
here. If they open, the Boko Haram members
could raid them. So, to withdraw money is very
difficult.
“People here will go to Yola to join long queues
to withdraw money. At times, you might be there
for the whole day; you might not achieve your
mission. It is only in Yola that you have banks in
operation…”
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