Sambisa: Hundreds of terrorists killed, 20 soldiers missing

No fewer than an estimated 2,000 insurgents were killed in a combined operation by Special Forces and the men of the Air Force on Friday and Saturday in the volatile Sambisa Forest of Borno State, which has become a prominent hideout of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

What would have been a great victory for the Special Forces was, however, marred by an operational misunderstanding between the ground troops and the officers in the Air Force Alpha Jet.

Army kills 11 B’Haram members, arrests 31

The Special Forces have arrested 31 fighters of the Boko Haram Sect who were attempting to flee the country through Taraba State and Gumti in Adamawa State into Cameroon.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail on Thursday that one of those arrested was a mercenary claiming to be a citizen of Chad and Burkinafaso.

Olukolade also said that 11 insurgents were also killed during shootouts with troops in the  border communities.

He said that the terrorists who were involved in the encounter with the Special Forces were trapped and were forced out of their hideout by hunger.

Our ordeal in B’Haram’s den –Female abductees

Two women abducted by Boko Haram insurgents  in the North-East have given a rare account of life as captives.

While one who  was held captive for 15 days, said she had a marriage proposal from one of the Islamist militants, the other said she was almost turned into a killer.

“They asked me if I am Christian or Muslim. I said I am a Christian,” said 23-year-old Liatu, as she recounted her ordeal   in the hands of Boko Haram members to theBritish Broadcasting Corporation.

“On the 11th day (in captivity), they brought a man to me and said that he liked me and that  I should convert to Islam so that he can marry me,” she added in the report published by the BBC on Monday.

Army kills 63 terrorists in Borno, Lake Chad area

ABUJA— Defence headquarters disclosed, yesterday, that the Special Force of the Nigerian Army killed 56 Boko Haram terrorists that have been making life unbearable for citizens living in the North-East of Nigeria, while seven other terrorists were killed in the Lake Chad islands.

According to a statement by Major-General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, the operations were carried out at Alafa in Borno State and the Lake Chad islands, respectively.