Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The military on Tuesday intercepted two suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect a few kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The media coordinator of the counter-insurgency force in the North east tagged Operation Lafiya Dole, Mustapha Anka, a Colonel, while addressing journalists at a press conference on Tuesday, said the troops intercepted the two suicide bombers as they tried to sneak into Maiduguri through Muna Dalti, just about100 meters from a checkpoint manned by troops and members of the youth vigilantes group, Civilian JTF.

“The suicide bombers were halted but refuse to stop, in the process the bombers blew themselves up. No causality was recorded on our troops and Civilian JTF.  The area has been cordoned while aggressive search is going on in the general area,” Anka explained.

A day earlier, Nigerian soldiers had dealt a major blow to Boko Haram with the killing of 50 insurgents, including two female suicide bombers, at a village in Dikwa.

According to a military source familiar with the operation, the troops acted on a tipoff that Boko Haram members were in a market at Bonori village and on getting there, the insurgents seen celebrating.

“On sighting the soldiers, they opened fire but the well prepared troops were able to overpower them. At the end, about 50 of them, including two female suicide bombers were killed,” the source said.

Anka confirmed the Dikwa incident, adding that some weapons were recovered from the insurgents.

“Equally, troops of 112 Battalion and AHQ Special Group conducted fighting patrols along Gardawaji, Adashe, Mijigine, Manawci, Sigafariya Bula Goma, Mafa, Dikwa and Kala Balge.  During the operation troops had contact with Boko Haram terrorists along Boboshe and Mowa Kasuwa, in the process 56 BHT were killed, items recovered include  8 AK-47 rifles, 3 RPG 7 tubes, 1 GPMG, 1 MPGP, 1-60mm mortar, 1 grenade, 3 motor bombs,” he stated.

He equally disclosed that troops also encountered Boko Haram gunmen in Ajigin and that many of them were also killed while vehicles and motorcycles were either captured of destroyed.

“In its determination to wipe out insurgents in the North East, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole recorded huge successes. Troops of 25 Task Force and Civilian JTF on routine operation to clear Ajigin had contact with Boko Haram terrorists, in process several insurgent were killed, while 50 motorcycle and three vehicle were captured and destroyed.”

He added that at the end of the clearance operations, an unspecified number of residents held hostage by the insurgents were rescued.

Still speaking about the military’s recent successes, Anka said that about 43 men who claimed to be members of the youth vigilante group were arrested along Damboa – Chibok road.

One of them, he stated, claimed to be the Village Head of Kopchi adding that six of them were apprehended for carrying AK 47 rifles and 15 Magazines.

“When accosted the suspects claimed that they are in Damboa to identify a suspected Boko Haram terrorist arrested in Kaya village. They are presently in custody undergoing interrogation,” the spokesman said.