Troops kill 63 in Borno raids : Wedding attack death toll rises to 12

In the incident at Bama on December 20, suspected Boko Haram fighters overrun the 202 Tank Battalion, killing 15 soldiers.The Defence Headquarters later said dozens of insurgentswere killed in the subsequent pursuit of the attackers.Yesterday, the DHQ in Abuja and headquarters of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri issued separate statements announcing […]

In the incident at Bama on December 20, suspected Boko Haram fighters overrun the 202 Tank Battalion, killing 15 soldiers.
The Defence Headquarters later said dozens of insurgentswere killed in the subsequent pursuit of the attackers.
Yesterday, the DHQ in Abuja and headquarters of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri issued separate statements announcing the latest casualties.
Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said the ground and air operations were conducted in the Alafa Forest, about 21 kilometers from Bama, where 56 insurgents were killed and two soldiers were injured.
Seven more died in an encounter with troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force near the borders with Niger and Chad, he added.
“Acting on intelligence reports which indicated renewed efforts by the terrorists to establish a new camp in the forests locations, the land and air operations has (sic) inflicted heavy casualty on the insurgents as indicated by the high level of their loss of men and materials,” Olukolade said.
“Air and land bombardments are continuing in different locations where terrorists have been reportedly sighted.
“In another development, troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force have foiled an attempt by terrorists who were massing up on an island on Lake Chad with a view to carrying out an attack on some Nigerian communities.
“Seven of the terrorists died while others fleeing in different direction towards Niger and Chad Republic are being trailed by troops.
“Intelligence reports have confirmed that some of the wounded terrorists were seen in a canoe paddling towards Tumbun Telkandam in Chad Republic.”
In a separate statement, acting spokesman for the 7 Div, Captain Aliyu Ibrahim Danja, said “troops of the 7 Division Nigeria Army supported by the Nigeria Air Force launched an intense attack on Boko Haram elements concentrated in Alafa general area in the early hours of Saturday 28th December 2013.
“Over 56 terrorists were killed during the encounter while several others fled with gunshot wounds. Weapons, equipment and vehicles belonging to the terrorists were also destroyed by the troops ground and air strikes, while two soldiers were wounded in action.”
Danja said the raids were part of the ongoing operation being conducted by the military to ensure peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations in Borno State.
“The General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Obidah Ethan, felicitates with the good people of Borno State and urged them to assist the military by passing useful information. This will in no small measure ease their operation in the quest to secure lives and property in Borno State,” he added.
The latest military operations came in the wake of two audacious attacks on military bases in Maiduguri and Bama.
In the December 2 Maiduguri attack, insurgents targeted the 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Army, the 333 Artillery Brigade and a police divisional headquarters. Five military aircraft and many buildings were destroyed, but there were no casualties on the side of security forces, authorities had said.