2nd LD Writethru: Nigerian army kills over 300 Boko Haram fighters: military
Xinhua, February 18, 2015 Adjust font size:
Nigerian troops killed over 300 Boko Haram militants in the last two days of counter-terrorism operations in northeastern state of Borno, the country's defense headquarters said Wednesday.
Several militants, weapons and equipment were captured. Two soldiers lost their lives while 10 others wounded in the operation, said Defense Spokesperson Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement.
The spokesperson added that the cordon and search operations are continuing with patrols by troops who have dominated some cleared communities.
The latest operation against Boko Haram is coming on the heels according to the agreement reached by regional leaders from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger to adopt a coordinated response to the group which has killed about 13,000 people and displaced over one million others.
The African Union Peace and Security Council held in January adopted a resolution to establish an initial 7, 500 troops to combat the Boko Haram insurgents.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau vowed to disrupt Nigeria's general election in a new video released Tuesday, after two suicide attacks in northeastern Nigeria blamed on the group killed 38 people.
The group has in the past two months progressed from bombings, raids and kidnappings to trying to seize territory. Endi