July 8, 2013

40 Feared Killed As JTF Goes On The Offensive In Maiduguri

Over 40 people suspected to be
members of the Boko Haram sect
have been killed between Saturday
and yesterday, when operatives of
the Joint Task Force (JTF) cordoned-
off Bulabulin and Ngarnam wards as well as Bayan Quarters - three
areas believed to be sanctuaries of
the insurgents in Maiduguri,
witnesses and hospital sources
said.

JTF spkesman Lt Col Sagir Musa
confirmed that JTf forces have
secured the area but was adamant
in not revealing the amount of
casualties but he however advised
the citizens passing through the
zones should go through other
routes pending when normalcy
returns to the area.

Our correspondent reports that for
over a year, most residents of
Bulabulin, Ngarnam and parts of
Bayan Tasha (railway, close to the
house of former Boko Haram
leader, Mohammed Yusuf) have
fled their homes, a development
which security sources said
provided a fertile ground for
insurgents to stay their. Sagir said
the ongoing operation was meant
to reclaim the settlements for the
rightful owners
According to him, "in an effort to
wipe out Boko Haram terrorists
from deserted Bulabulin, Bayan
Quarters and Ngarnam, the JTF has
taken over the areas with
deployment of personnel and
equipment. "Recall that the
inhabitants of the areas were
chased out of their houses by Boko
Haram terrorists and converted
most of the houses to hideouts or
enclaves

"The latest efforts of the task force
led to the dislodgment of the
insurgents and the recovery of
arms, ammunitions, Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs) and some
terrorists died during an exchange
of fire with the JTF troops," Sagir
said. He stated that on Saturday
alone, troops recovered 6 RPG
bombs, one sub-machine gun, 4
AK47 rifles, 4 RPG launchers, 7
empty magazines, three army
camouflage uniforms and 2 tricycles
in some hideouts in Bulabulin
"Therefore, in furtherance of the
operation, the JTF wishes to alert
and warn members of the public
particularly those farming or
passing through the above
mentioned areas to keep away as
operation is ongoing," the JTF
spokesman said. Sources at the
State Specialist Hospital said over
25 corpses were deposited there
between Saturday and yesterday
while some people who live around
Galadima Junction and Hausari said
there are about 10 corpses at
Bulabulin and Ngarnam that are yet to to be taken away.

A resident said JTF troops used
Armoured Personnel Carriers
(APCs) to subdue the insurgents
and thereafter destroyed many
houses to pave way for searching
the areas. In another
development, the JTF had
commended what it described as
"the patriotic efforts of citizens and
residents of Borno State
particularly the youth vigilante
groups" that were determined to
assisting security agencies to defeat
Boko Haram terrorists in the state,
Lt Col Sagir, who interacted with
some youth leaders in Gwange and
Hausari areas of Maiduguri
yesterday, urged the youths to
conduct themselves within the
ambits of the law so that their
efforts will be fully appreciated by
members of the public.