By Chimezie Godfrey
The troops of Operation Fire Ball have decimated Boko Haram terrorists, rescued kidnap victims, and intercepted terrorists’ logistic supplies in the North-East zone of the country.
Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters Abuja, disclosed this on Friday.
Onyeuko stressed that the troops of Operation Fire Ball have recorded high level of achievements in their continued aggressive clearance operation to stamp out the remnants of the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminals from their identified enclaves in the North East region.
According to him, these achievements are as a result of their aggressive and responsive posture throughout the theatre of operation.
Onyeuko disclosed that on 17 November 2020, troops of 251 Task Force Battalion deployed in Strong Response Area Molai acting on credible intelligence intercepted some Boko Haram criminals and relations of some kidnapped persons making efforts to pay a ransom of Two Million naira cash (2,000,000.00) to the terrorists.
He said, “In a swift reaction, the gallant troops engaged the Boko Haram criminals forcing them to abort the collection of the payment as well as abandoned their captives.
“In the aftermath of the decisive encounter, One Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist was neutralized while others escaped with gunshot wounds. One AK 47 Rifle and one Motorcycle were recovered.
“The victims including 2 women and 3 children were all rescued unhurt.”
He revealed that in another development, on 17 November 2020, troops of 151 Battalion conducted an aggressive fighting patrol to clear Boko Haram criminals’ hideout in the general area of Zaye Ngusa Village.
According to him, the eagle-eyed troops spotted the criminals and engaged them with superior firepower forcing them to withdraw in disarray as bloodstains littered along their escape paths as one terrorist was neutralized.
He also said that in the same day, on 17 November 2020, troops of 202 Battalion conducted a successful ambush operation along one of the criminals crossing point leading to the neutralization of one Boko Haram criminal while several others are believed to have escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds under the cover of darkness.
Onyeuko further disclosed that on 15 November 2020, troops of 26 Task Force Brigade in Strong Response Area Pulka in a well-coordinated ambush operation along Pulka – Sabon Gari – Kirawa road intercepted Boko Haram criminals logistics convoy.
He said on sighting the terrorists, the troops engaged the criminals with gunfire forcing them to flee abandoning their consignments.
He mentioned that items recovered were: 8 bicycles, several bags of grains, assorted packets of drugs, and other food items.
Onyeuko commended the troops of Operation Fire Ball for their resilience, gallantry, and professionalism exhibited since the beginning of the Operation.
He encouraged them not to rest on their oars but build on the successes recorded so far.
He assured the entire populace of the North East region of the Nigerian military high command’s determination to finally rout the remnants of BHT/ISWAP criminals from their enclaves in the zone.
