Military captures Boko Haram's spiritual HQ in Alargano Forest after 10-day fierce battle

MILITARY commanders have claimed a major victory in the war against Boko Haram declaring that Nigerian Army troops have captured the terrorists' spiritual headquarters in Alargano Forest after a fierce 10-day battle.

 

Over the last week, government forces and Boko Haram fighters have been engaged in pitch battles in Borno State and military authorities say the fighting has now ended with their troops coming out on top. Major General Lucky Irabor, the general officer commanding the Seventh Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, said the troops offensive to capture Alargano Forest since March 18 was successfully concluded on Monday.

 

He said the offensive commenced on March 18 at about 0900 hours with troops of the Third and Seventh Mechanised Divisions, assisted by the Nigerian Air Force (Naf). Major General Irabor, however, revealed that the advance was halted several times due to planted improvised explosive devices along the way.

 

Major General Irabor said: “Our gallant troops finally entered Alagarno on March 28, 2016, during which several Boko Haram terrorists were killed along the route. This operation demystified the Boko Haram terrorists’ spiritual power base in Alagarno and throughout the operation, the Naf consistently resupplied the advancing troops and assisted in evacuating soldiers who were wounded in action.”

 

He further disclosed that in the last one month, Nigerian troops also captured Kumshe in conjunction with Cameroonian forces, during which 24 armed insurgents were killed. Weapons recovered from them included one truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, two AK47 rifles as well as 60 mm mortars.