A top commander of the Boko Haram sect, popularly called Buwayayye (meaning ‘untouchable’ in Hausa), has been killed and another captured yesterday in Sokoto after an eight-hour fierce gun battle between the sect and a combined team of security forces comprising soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service.
The brigade commander, 1 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Ta’siu Ibrahim, confirmed the operation.
He said it was carried out around Gidan Dare, Kalambaina in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state and that it lasted almost eight hours from 2am on Thursday.
Another military source added that the armed forces recorded no casualty. Briefing newsmen at the Azazi Hall of 1 Brigade, Sokoto Army Barracks, yesterday, Ibrahim advised every Nigerian to make peace a priority.
He assured that security agents are ever ready to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of all Nigerians, as well as protect her territorial integrity in line with global best practices at all times.
“I want to intimate you with our activities within the last 24 hours in ensuring that the atmosphere of peace prevails, especially in this holy month of the Ramadan that we are in.
Despite the fact that it is a holy month, a few hoodlums, to be specific, terrorists, are hell-bent on causing mayhem and destruction and spilling the blood of innocent citizens,” he said.
Speaking on the operational method, he said, “On a tip-off, we undertook a joint operation in the general area of Gidan Dare, around Kalambaina road, and a terrorist hideout was discovered.
The operation commenced in the early hours of Thursday and I am pleased to inform you that it was hugely successful as fatalities on the part of the terrorists were recorded.
To be precise, one of the terrorists was killed, one captured, and five women and six children were rescued. Two of the women are pregnant and are receiving ante-natal care at the moment.”