By Adedayo Ogunleye, Abuja
Boko Haram insurgents responsible for the terrorist activities in the North east have come under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops recording heavy casualties, the military has reported.
According to a press release from the Defence Headquarters signed by the Director, Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General , over 300 terrorists have been killed in the past 48 hours while several were captured in operations involving air strikes and land troops against the insurgent group in the communities where they have hitherto holed up.
The Nigerian troops also recovered weapons, ammunition, and equipment from the insurgents in the course of the counter-terrorism campaign.
Olukolade said that five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and eight different types of machine guns, five Rocket Propelled Grenade, RPGs, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition were destroyed in the battle to rid the region of the insurgents.
According to the Defence Headquarters, six Hilux vehicles including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns, as well as 300 motorcycles were also destroyed.
Two Nigerian soldiers are reported to have been killed during the military campaign while 10 others were wounded.
The on-going counter terrorism campaign involves the use of cordon and search operations by military patrols to secure recovered territories such as Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Zuntur, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul while aerial strikes are being combined with land operations to flush out the terrorists from the territories they still occupy.
In related development, the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, has called for renewed vigilance in communities, towns, and cities yet untouched by the activities of the Boko Haram sect, stating that with the crushing blows dealt to the sect recently by the military, members of the sect might seek to infiltrate the neighbouring towns masquerading as small-scale business owners or artisans.
Speaking at the weekly press conference conducted by the Centre, Omeri, who is also the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, stated that there had been cases where some members of the sect who had sought refuge in the various Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps across the region had been apprehended by vigilant security operatives.
He cautioned the people to watch out for strange faces and report suspicious activities or persons to the security agencies.
He said further that the military onslaught against members of Boko Haram terrorist group in the North east had forced members of the group to take up menial jobs, and that this was only to ward off security operatives.
The spokesman expressed delight at the recapture of more towns in the North east by Nigerian troops supported by the regional Multi National Force.