In a Major Victory, Nigeria Army Recaptures Baga…

•As scores of fleeing terrorists drown in Lake Chad

The Nigerian military has completed the routing of Boko Haram from the strategic town of Baga, Borno State, which they lost early this year to the terrorists.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI) Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed this yesterday, therefore confirming THISDAY report that Baga was almost liberated, with little details remaining, including mopping up operations.

Olukolade said a large number of terrorists drowned in Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force.

According to him, not even the strategy of rigging over 1500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops.

He said: “All the land mines were skillfully cleared one after the other. Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town in the early hours of Friday.

“Many of the terrorists died while an unknown but substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury, in the series of encounter along the routes of advance as troops headed for Baga”.

Olukolade said that apart from the five anti aircraft guns and the rifles captured from the terrorists, over 34 motorcycles and five vehicles including trucks being used for operations by the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the fighting as troops headed for Baga.

He said “the troops finally began clearing the terrorists from Baga on arrival in the town early Saturday morning.

“A comprehensive cordon and search phase of military operation has now commenced to enable troops mop up arms and ammunition and also apprehend any terrorist who might be hiding in the vicinity”.

The Defence Spokesman said that the exercise will also determine details of the casualties inflicted or incurred in the course of the operations to clear Baga and environ of terrorists.

Similarly, he added, exercise is being carried out in over 15 locations namely Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa,, Kangarwa, Amirari, Kichimatari, Borokari Barati, Kauwa and other localities where troops have flushed out the terrorists in the operations preceding the entry to Baga.

“The troops are now dominating and conducting aggressive patrols in the locations. The morale of troops remain high”, he said.