Army hopeful of ending Boko Haram attacks after uncovering their bomb making factory

TROOPS from the Seventh Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri have made a significant breakthrough in the war against Boko Haram by uncovering and destroying one of its bomb making factories in Borno State.

 

Despite facing several setbacks, Boko Haram still has the capacity to detonate bombs and cause significant damage as was witnessed over the last two days in Yola and Kano. At least 15 people are believed to have been killed in the Kano blast yesterday, with the number of injured approaching 30, while in Yola, 32 died and 80 were injured.

 

In a bid to halt these attacks, the Nigerian Army appears to have intensified its search for Boko Haram's bomb factories.  Army spokesman Col Sani Usman, revealed that the factory at Jamrari was uncovered and destroyed during a special raid carried out at the general area of Delwa in Borno State.

 

Col Usman said: “This unprecedented development has put paid to the much touted ability of the terrorists to fabricate rockets and their launchers using rudimentary materials. This has further crippled the terrorists and greatly emboldened the troops in carrying out more offensive actions against the terrorists till they are defeated.”

 

Chief of army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, commended the troops for this singular act and other similar feats and encouraged them to do more, asserting that the terrorists are on the verge of being defeated. It is believed that special forces supported by Nigeria Air Force aircraft, killed about 40 Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed their rocket fabrication factory during the raid.

 

According to the Nigerian Army, during the attack which was meant to thwart the troop’s advancement, 26 terrorists were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries. It added that in addition, the troops recovered one VB improved explosive device, two AK-47 rifles, 111 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two rocket propelled grenades.

 

Despite the raid, yesterday, two girls wearing explosive vests blew themselves off and killed at least 15 young men and wounded 23 others at the Farm Centre GSM Market in Kano metropolis. This follows a similar gruesome attack in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Tuesday, when Boko Haram detonated a bomb, killing 32 people and wounding 80 others