The military has reclaimed the Borno town earlier captured by Boko Haram, following a bloody attack on March 3.
The military announced yesterday that troops of the Joint Task Force Northeast Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) successfully uprooted the terrorists from Ngoshe, a town in the Southeast of Maiduguri nine days after Boko Haram terrorists seized the community.
Operation Hadin Kai spokesman, Lt.Col. Sani Uba announced the development yesterday in a statement which was described by many residents as “soothing news.”
“Troops of the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI have successfully thwarted terrorist attack on a military location in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, restoring control of the position after a swift counter-offensive,” he disclosed.
“On Match 3, Boko Haram stormed Ngoshe at about 6:20pm while Muslims were set to break their fast. The terrorists attacked a military location, surrounded the town, killed dozens of civilians and soldiers, and kidnapped many.”
Uba,however, said the military prepared reinforcement from troops in Gwoza and Pulka, two towns around the area, to clear Ngoshe of terrorists and recapture the town.
He said the reinforcement led by a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which damaged two tyres.
He explained that despite this setback, the reinforcement moved to the town and successfully recaptured it. It also restored the military location in the community back.
He said three AK-47 rifles and a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) barrel were recovered from the fleeing terrorists as troops engaged them in fierce shootings.
Air Component of OPHK also provided heavy air support to the operation and neutralised scores of the terrorists according to the spokesman.
He said troops of Operation Hadin Kai,”remain resolute in their determination to deny terrorists freedom of action.”
Residents of Maiduguri described the news of the recapturing of Ngoshe as soothing and reassuring, urging the military not to allow the territorists run over any community again.
