The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno has said that its troops killed four suspected Boko Haram members, including experts in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), in a gun battle yesterday in Maiduguri. JTF, in a statement yesterday, said the suspected BokoHaram men were killed in "sustained follow-up operations" conducted by the Task Force at Sabon Gere, Sabon Layin Gwange, Dala Sajeri, Biafra and Suleimanti areas of Maiduguri metropolis this week.
The task force also said: "Following the killingof Abdulkareem Ibrahim, a high profile Boko Haram commander, in a joint operation with Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation RESTORE ORDER, troops along Damboa-Biu road, on 2 December, 2012 and based on additional information made available to the JTF, sustained follow-up operations were successfully conducted by the Task Force at Sabon Gere, Sabon Layin Gwange, Dala Sajeri, Biafra and Suleimanti areas of Maiduguri metropolis between 3 – 5 December, 2012. "Consequently, four identified Boko Haram terrorists sub-commanders, including two experts in the manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices, were killed in a shoot-out with own troops."
Musa also disclosed that two soldiers were wounded in the gun duel, adding that some arms, including five AK 47 rifles, one pistol, 11AK 47 rifles' empty magazines, one G3 rifle, 176 assorted ammunition, 24 quantity of assorted primed IEDs gas cylinders, 12 piecesof IEDs remote control switches, six assorted IEDs and incendiary materials/chemicals and 15 small primed IED cans were recovered. "Allthe recovered items are planned to be used by the terrorists for operation Black Christmas, aimed at disrupting peaceful conduct of the impending Christmas celebration in Borno State," the JTF spokesman claimed.
While thanking residents for their understanding and cooperation, Lt. Col Musa appealed to the people to continue to give timely and credible information to the task force through the telephone numbers already provided by the task force.