By Ademola Adeleye
A Boko Haram advance on Maiduguri was crushed yesterday by a combined team of Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigeria Police Force and Youth Vigilantes.
According to the Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Mohamed Yerima, the terrorists had tried to advance from Aldawari axis in an attempt to attack soft targets along Jiddari Polo, but were countered by combined gallant troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, Youth Vigilante and hunters leading to terrorists withdrawal in dissary.
He said following a hot pursuit by troops, heavy casualty was inflicted on the terrorists as nine of them were neutralized while many escaped with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered include: one Buffalo Gun Truck, three motorcycles, three Browning Machine Guns, a Rocket Propelled Gun and four AK 47 rifles were recovered from the terrorists.
Others include: one Improvised Explosive Device, sixteen 12V batteries among other items.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has commended the gallantry of troops and urged them to keep up the tempo of the operation.