Multiregional Troops Engage Boko Haram Fighters In Border Towns

BEVERLY HILLS, March 15, (THEWILL) – Troops from Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Benin and Nigeria, fighting under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) are currently battling Boko Haram terrorists in a determined bid to retake Damasak, Borno State, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Damasak is one of the boisterous border towns of Borno State where farm produce like beans, pepper and tomatoes are produced in commercial quantity. It is close to Diffa in Niger Republic and was seized by the terrorists in November last year as part of Boko Haram's campaign to create an Islamic state.

PRNigeria, a pro government public relations website that publishes press releases for government agencies, reported that Boko Haram attacked Damasak and Ashigarchi, two towns in Mobbar local government area of Borno, in their hundreds killing over 50 persons in Damasak alone on November 15, 2014.

The website said vehicles and houses were torched forcing hundreds of residents to flee into Cameroun.

The site added that top security and military sources confirmed that the ongoing battle, which commenced on Sunday, countered news reports in the media last week that the town had been retaken by troops of a foreign country collaborating in the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force is sustaining its aerial assault of identified terrorists hideouts in some locations in Yobe and Borno States as part of ongoing campaign against terror, Major General Chris Olukayode, the Director of Nigeria's Defence Information said Sunday.

“Several sorties are being flown either in conjunction with ongoing ground assault by troops or to dislodge any concentration of terrorists as follow up to intelligence reports. Simultaneous mopping up operations are also ongoing in the areas already operated upon by Nigerian Air Force…” he added in a statement.