Lagos, Nigeria - The military Joint Task Force (JTF) battling the Islamic sect Boko Haram said on Saturday it had killed 52 and arrested 70 suspected members of the sect following 'a series of operations' in Nigeria's northern Borno state, regarded as the spiritual base of the sect.
JTF Spokesman Sagir Musa told journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno capital, that two soldiers died while three others were wounded during the operations, the latest of which were conducted in Bulabulin, Bayern Quarters and Jajeri in Maiduguri metropolis between 3 and 8 pm local time on Friday.
'During these operations, there were exchanges of fire that led to the death of 52 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists. Ten of them were identified as commanders of the terrorists,’’ Lt.-Col Musa said.
He said the task force recovered several arms and ammunition during the operations, listed them as including anti aircraft guns, 10 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tubes, three General Purpose Machine Guns, and 17 AK47 Rifles.
The operations were conducted shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan left Maiduguri after paying his first visit to Borno and Yobe States, the areas most affected by the Boko Haram violence.
The second launched its violent campaign in 2009, saying it wants to impose the Islamic Sharia law on the country, which is divided almost equally between the Muslim north and the Christian South.
According to the Nigerian Army, the sect has killed about 3,000 people in gun and bomb attacks since 2009
Pana 09/03/2013