By Our Reporter
The Nigerian military has confirmed the death of 22 soldiers during a recent operation in the North-East region of the country. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) stated that the fatalities occurred during a clearance mission targeting the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist stronghold.
In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations Edward Buba explained that the operation, which began on January 25, aimed to dismantle terrorist networks in the area. Unfortunately, the operation resulted in 22 soldiers killed in action, with several others wounded.
“Throughout the operation, troops engaged in multiple confrontations with terrorists, leading to the neutralization of over 70 combatants, including three key terrorist commanders,” Buba said. The commanders killed include Talha, the Special Forces Commander, Mallam Umar, the Operations Commander, and Abu Yazeed, the Brigade Commander.
Despite the terrorists’ use of various tactics such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, and explosive-laden vehicles to resist military advances, the troops successfully countered these threats. “Troops familiar with the terrorists’ methods thwarted several attempts, including shooting down enemy drones,” the DHQ added.
The operation continues to demonstrate the military’s commitment to neutralizing terrorist threats in the region, with significant successes despite the dangers faced.