Special Forces raid B’Haram hideout, kill 20

Soldiers of the Special Forces have raided a hideout of
members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, at
Yaurakura, in the Bagudu Island of Lake Chad area of Borno
State and killed 20 insurgents.

A highly placed military source, who disclosed this to one of
our correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja, described the
raid as a major victory against the insurgents.

It was learnt that the raid, which began on Saturday, consisted
of both attack by land troops and aerial bombardment by the
air force.

The raid was said to have been made possible as a result of
intelligence reports and air reconnaissance operations in the
area.

The source described Yaurakura as a major stronghold of the
insurgents and that the area also served as an escape route on
water.

The source said that the troops also seized several arms and
ammunition from the Boko Haram fighters.

Among the items said to have been seized from the insurgents
were sub- machine guns, BMG machine guns, rifles, rocket
propelled bombs and assorted ammunitions as well as four
vehicles said to be laden with Improvise Explosive Devices.

The source said, "The troops captured a stronghold of the
terrorists at Yaurakura, Bagudu Island of Lake Chad and
about 20 of them were killed while many were wounded.

"The arms seized from them include sub machine guns, rifles,
rocket propelled bombs, assorted ammunitions, five speed
boats, a welding machine and four vehicles. The vehicles
were loaded with IEDS."

Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade,
said that the Special Forces would continue the raids on the
camps of the insurgents and would not allow them operate any
base in and around the country.

He said that the main focus of the ongoing military raids was
to ensure that the insurgents were prevented from establishing
or reactivating any camp in the country.
"The onslaught against the terrorists is continuing in every
direction, they will not be allowed to operate any base in
Nigeria," he said.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria on
Wednesday raised the alarm over the continued killing of
Christians in the north by members of the Boko Haram
Islamic sect.

The association in a communiqué issued at the end of its
Special Meeting in Abuja and signed by its General Secretary,
Dr. Musa Asake, expressed worries that despite the state of
emergency declared in the North-Eastern part of the country
to curtail insurgency, the attacks on Christians had continued
unabated.

The communique reads in part, "On the 3rd of this month at
about 8pm, Boko Haram members attacked Ngoshe village in
Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and killed
eight Christians: Baba Ayuba, Baba Bitrus and Baba Isa
Biyabra, the security guard and four others whose names we
are yet to get.

"They burnt 11 houses owned by the Christians and three
churches: EYN church, Deeper Life Bible Church and the
Redeemed Christian Church of God. We were informed that
when the Christian community sought to meet the state
governor on this issue, he said he does not have the time to
see them until February next year."

Via: Punch