The Nigerian Army said that its troops in Borno on Friday killed a top Boko Haram commander known as Ameer Abubakar Gana and 18 other fighters.
A statement issued on Saturday by army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman said several arms, ammunition, vehicles and other items were recovered during the operation.
Usman said in the statement that the commander and his men were killed during a clearance operation on the terrorists’ stronghold at Chukungudu by troops from various army battalions with support from Air Force aerial surveillance.
Usman said the operation was conducted following intelligence report about the activities of the insurgents in the area.
“Following credible information on the presence of Boko Haram terrorists at Chukungudu, a carefully planned operation comprising troops of 22 Brigade Garrison and 153 Task Force Battalion as well as Nigerian Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaisance, was conducted.
“While advancing to the location, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists’ ambush position at Muskari, Gilam and Hausasi.
“During the encounter at the camp, the troops killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists including their notorious leader, Ameer Abubakar Gana.
“They also destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factory and detonated four primed IEDs at the factory’’, the statement quoted Usman as saying.
It said the troops recovered two anti-aircraft guns, one AK-47 rifle and a magazine, a pistol, one rocket propelled grenade, 267 rounds of 7.62mm NATO metal link ammunition and 23 rounds of 12.7mm belt ammunition.
It added that the troops also recovered a Canter truck, one gun truck, one Land Rover vehicle and a Toyota (Hilux) pick up.
It said two soldiers who sustained gunshot injuries during the operation were in stable condition and responding to treatment.
Ground forces with aerial support from the Nigerian Air Force recently killed scores of insurgents, cleared their camps and rescued many hostages
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