The Nigerian Army says its collaboration with the Cameroonian Army is yielding results and has brought “renewed vigour” in the counter-insurgency operation along the countries’ borders.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in Abuja on Monday.
He said the renewed cooperation had led to several joint operations carried out by troops of both countries at Kirawa junction and Pulka communities in Borno.
Usman said a recent joint operation by troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade and a unit of the Cameroonian forces resulted in the rescue of 112 persons at Kirawa junction.
He added that the cooperation had also helped in the removal of mines along the axis of the troops’ advance.
“Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade married up with Cameroonian forces for joint operations in Kirawa junction. Although they did not meet any of the terrorists in the axis of advance, they rescued eight men, 36 women and 68 children in the area.
“To further consolidate on the cordial relationship, the Commander of Cameroonian 1st Battalion, paid a courtesy call on his counterpart, the Commanding Officer of 121 Task Force Battalion in Pulka.
“The visiting unit assisted with the de-mining of a section of the road between Kirawa Junction to Pulka and handed over two suspected Boko Haram terrorists to the Nigerian unit’’, he said.
Usman said the joint operation, however, recorded its first casualty with the killing of a Cameroonian officer, when a vehicle conveying troops ran into a mine along the Pulka-Ngoshe road.
He said eight other Cameroonian soldiers were injured in the accident during an operational visit to the 26 Task Force Brigade base.
On the progress report on the operations in the region, Usman said troops had intensified patrols in the general area to clear the remnant of the terrorists’ camps.
He added that troops of 113 Battalion, on patrol to Ngwala, cleared Boko Haram terrorists’ camps at Ngorta and Aritimie villages.
Usman said the patrol team closed a market at Ngwala village as a result of the Boko Haram activities in the area.
According to him, the patrol team, during its cordon and search operation around the area, recovered two pick-up vehicles and 12 motorcycles belonging to fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.
(NAN)
