The Nigerian Army has said its troops, early Friday morning, successfully cleared Guro Gongon village of Boko Haram remnants who were still hiding there, but lost some of its men during the operation.
This was revealed in a statement by the acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman.
According to the statement, the troops recovered a Gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft gun, a MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), a Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, a Light Machine Gun, 3 AK-47 rifles and motorcycles.
However, the statement noted that the soldiers were ambushed on their way back by Boko Haram reinforcements, leaving 19 soldiers and 3 JTF members wounded while some soldiers are missing.
According to the statement, a search party comprising of Special Forces personnel has since been dispatched to establish contact with the missing in action troops.
“Today morning, troops on clearance patrol at Guro Gongon village and environs to rout out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating therein, destroyed the terrorists’ makeshift camps and recovered quite a number of weapons, equipment and foodstuff in the process. The recovered items include 1 Gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, a MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 1 Light Machine Gun, 3 AK-47 rifles and motorcycles.
“However, the gallant soldiers basking on the recorded success, returning to their defensive locations, ran into an ambush by a group of Boko Haram terrorists who came to reinforce their fleeing comrades. The troops fought back gallantly killing several of the insurgents.
“Sadly however, 19 soldiers and 3 civilian JTF members were wounded in action while a few others were missing in action. The wounded have been evacuated and are responding to treatment, while a search and rescue party comprising of Special Forces personnel has since been dispatched to establish contact with the missing in action troops, some of whom, as at the time of filing this report, have started returning to their defensive location.”