By AGATHA N UJU, Correspondent, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy Marines at the Naval Base Lake Chad in conjunction with 403 Amphibious Brigade Nigerian Army, operating under Operation HADIN KAI, have neutralised about 34 Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) in the Lake Chad area through sustained, intelligence-driven offensive operations.
The Nigerian Navy Marines on Wednesday, conducted offensive operations against terrorist elements, with initial reports indicating that 8 terrorists were killed in action.
A subsequent Battle Damage Assessment revised the casualty figure to 28 terrorists killed in action.
Then, in a separate operation on Friday, the Nigerian Navy Marines deployed at Naval Base Lake Chad conducted an offensive strike against identified Boko Haram terrorist enclave at Dumba.
According to the Nigerian Navy information authority, the operation followed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions that facilitated the identification and monitoring of terrorist elements before a precision strike was executed.
Explaining further in a statement on Saturday, by the Director Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, preliminary Battle Damage Assessment indicates that approximately six terrorists were neutralised, while several others reportedly sustained injuries. The navy said operational assessments were ongoing to ascertain the exact casualty figures which remain subject to further verification.
The maintains that since their deployment, the recently established Nigerian Navy Marines have served as a force multiplier under Operation HADIN KAI, strengthening the conduct of offensive operations against terrorist elements.
“Their operational contributions have enhanced the capacity to target terrorist enclaves, disrupt hostile activities and deny Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action within the Lake Chad area. “These efforts continue to support the degradation of terrorist capabilities and advance ongoing operations to restore peace and stability in the North East,” the navy said.
