Nigerian troops repel terrorists attack: military

Nigerian troops in restive northeast state of Borno has succeeded in repelling Boko Haram terrorist attack on Shetimari area of the state, a military spokesperson said on Friday.

National defense spokesperson Major General Chris Olukolade said in a statement that two suicide bombers leading a band of terrorists were among over a score of Boko Haram fighters who lost their lives.

He said over 12 rifles and one machine gun were captured from the terrorists group as the attack was repelled. The military spokesperson added that rocket-propelled grenades and some bombs were also recovered from the group.

According to him, troops conducting mopping up operation are still combing the area while others are in pursuit of those who are on the run.

Olukolade however confirmed that incidents of suicide bomb attacks recorded in Yola and Maiduguri respectively.

He added that the offensive operations in Sambisa and other forest enclaves of the terrorists are continuing with intelligence activities, aerial surveillance and highly coordinated air bombardment backed by ground assaults.

Boko Haram, a militant group seeking to enshrine the Islamic sharia law into the Constitution in Nigeria, has been bombing some part of the West African country everyday since May 29 when President Muhammadu Buhari took over.

More than 100 people have been killed in Maiduguri, the northeast Borno State capital and alone in less than a week.

Boko Haram had on May 29, staged a major attack on Maiduguri by firing dozens of RPGs into the town which caused the death of at least 30 people mostly women and children, and destroyed number of homes.

Nigeria's new President Buhari has in the first minutes of his assumption of office issued a marching order to the country's military command to relocate its office to Maiduguri the epicenter of the Boko Haram and remain there until the last of the terrorists were wiped out and of course the missing Chibok school girls rescued.

The former military head of state had vowed that his administration will bring new impetus and a renewed commitment to the efforts to wipe out the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents. Endi