…soldiers pay supreme price
Scores of terrorists were killed and others brutally injured during a gun battle with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma in North West Nigeria.
The operation followed days of intensive surveillance by ground troops and the Nigerian Air Force, who intercepted the bandits on January 31, spokesperson of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, said in a statement on Sunday.
According to Osoba, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence revealing that over 100 bandits had gathered at the camp of notorious bandit leader Dan Karmi to coordinate large-scale attacks on local communities and military supply lines.
He said, “A fierce firefight ensued as the terrorists attempted a flanking and encirclement maneuver. However, they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the troops.
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“While many bandits were eliminated, others fled with gunshot wounds. The Camp was set ablaze before the troops withdrew.”
The spokesperson confirmed that some soldiers were killed during the fierce encounter, while a combat support vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade and caught fire.
He said the Nigerian Air Force is currently conducting interdiction missions to intercept the fleeing remnants, while ground troops maintain dominance over the area.
“The Nigerian Army honours fallen soldiers’ sacrifice and remains determined in its mission; combat efficiency remains high as troops continue to dismantle bandit networks and disrupt their supply chains across the region,” Osoba said.