Nigerian troops recover more towns from Boko Haram terrorists

Nigerian troops operating in northeastern states have recaptured more towns from the members of the Boko Haram sect, the country's defense authority said.

Spokesperson for the defense headquarters Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, said in a statement reaching Xinhua that the troops carried out a crushing defeat to the insurgents and recovered the headquarters of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State, Bara, and the headquarters of Madagali Local Government area, Gulag, from them in the early hours of Friday.

Olukolade said the troops also flushed out terrorists from other locations such as Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa, during the two-day operation.

According to Olukolade, many insurgents were killed in the fierce fighting that preceded the liberation of the communities.

The military spokesperson added that the troops recovered and destroyed several arms and ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.

According to him, the items recovered included anti-air craft guns, general purpose machine guns, barrel grenade launchers, rifles and mortar guns.

The latest operation against Boko Haram is coming on the heels of 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 1 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 the group for killing 38 people.

The group has in the past two months upgraded their tactics from bombings, raids and kidnappings to trying to seize territory. Endi