The Nigerian military has driven out Boko Haram insurgents from Baga, successfully reclaiming the town in Borno state captured by the terrorists on January 3.

Many of the insurgents were killed while others fled, with some drowning in the Lake Chad in the process in a military operation that started with heavy aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force.

.A statement issued on Saturday by the Defence spokesman, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said the insurgents had laid more than 1,500 land mines along the routes leading to the town but that they were all cleared, allowing land troops to advance and take over the town after the heavy bombardment by the Air Force.

“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 of the as troops headed for Baga,” Olukolade said.

He said further that five anti – aircraft guns and rifles were captured from the Boko Haram fighter while five vehicles, including trucks, and 34 motorcycles were also destroyed in the operation to retake the town.

As had happened in other recaptured towns, a cordon and search operation has commenced in the town to arrest any insurgents that might have gone into hiding and to mop up arms and ammunition they left behind.

Before Baga, Olukolade stated that similar operations had been carried out by Nigerian troops to reclaim territory taken over by Boko Haram including Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa, Kangarwa, Amirari and others.

More than 2,000 residents were reportedly killed on January 3 when hundreds of Boko Haram gunmen stormed Baga and succeeded in capturing the town.

The terrorists sacked the headquarters of the multi-national military task force based in the town and hoisted the sect’s flag in an attack still recorded as the bloodiest by the insurgents.