The Defence Headquarters said on Monday that 56 terrorists were killed in a major offensive at Alafa forest in Borno State at the weekend.

A statement signed by the director of defence information, Chris Olukolade, a major-general, said security forces launched ground and air operations on the terrorists’ locations in the forest at Alafa about 21 km from Bama in Borno.

He said troops of the multi-national Joint Task Force foiled an attempt by terrorists who were massing up on an island on Lake Chad with the intentions of carrying out attacks on some nearby communities.

However, in the gunfire battle that ensued, the army said heavy casualty was inflicted on the insurgents as indicated by the high level of their loss of men and materials and that the air and land bombardments were continuing in different locations where terrorists had been reportedly sighted.

“Over 56 terrorists died in the ensuing intensive fight over the weekend. The DHQ is acting on intelligence reports which indicated renewed efforts by the terrorists to establish a new camp in the forests locations,” he said.

According to the statement, two soldiers were wounded in the operation.

The army spokesman said intelligence reports had confirmed that some of the wounded terrorists were seen in a canoe paddling towards Tumbun Telkandam in Chad Republic.