Nigerian soldiers ‘kill more than 103 terrorists’

The Nigerian Military on Friday said its men killed at least 103 suspected terrorists over two raids on the group’s hideouts.

According to a Defence Headquarters statement, troops invaded a makeshift camp of terrorists in Miyanti and Bulungu, killing “over 50 terrorists” in the ensuing clash”.

It said a fuel dump used for storing fuel for their operations, as well as vehicles including Toyota Hillux trucks, Peugeot cars, and 7 motorcycles, were destroyed in the raid, while 15 rifles, 11 machine guns and hundreds of ammunition were captured by the troops.

The statement added that in a separate encounter around the Nigeria-Niger border, troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force stormed a terrorists’ hideout in a raid operation and recovered 18 rifles, 5 General Purpose Machine Guns, 25 hand grenades and IED making materials.

“A total of 53 terrorists died in the encounter, while the troops lost 2 men and 5 others suffered varying degrees of injuries,” it said.

The military further said a suspected gun runner in Plateau State was apprehended during a cordon-and-search operation by troops tasked to mop up illegal arms in the state.

Elsewhere, it said 15 suspects were taken into custody in Abuja, after a raid that resulted in the recovery of 7 rifles, pistols, swords and other weapons.

“Military operations to track armed gangs will be sustained in various locations,” the statement said.