JTF Kills 20 Suspected Gunmen In Borno

SAN FRANCISCO, March 03, (THEWILL) – The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Operation Restore Order, Sunday, killed 20 gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram in a bloody clash with the hoodlums.

The Sunday clash followed the arrest of two leading members of Boko Haram accused of detonating explosive bombs during the visit of All Progressive Congress (APC) governors to Maiduguri last week.

JTF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said in a statement, that the deadly clash between JTF and Boko Haram , happened in Monguno, a distance of about 200 kilometres from Maiduguri in the early hours of Sunday.

He said that the gunmen were felled when they attempted to attack the military barracks in the town but were repelled off by soldiers who gave the hoodlums a big surprise.

According to the JTF statement, "Information available to the Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order, indicated that some Boko Haram terrorists attempted to attack a Military Barracks at Monguno, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State at about 5 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013.

Monguno is about 200 kilometres away from Maiduguri and about two hours drive. The attack was repelled by the FOB’s and JTF troops at the outskirt of the barracks. The encounter led to the death of 20 Boko Haram terrorists, three four wheel vehicles and eight motor cycles used by the terrorists were destroyed."

Musa listed the items recovered from the Boko Haram members to include seven AK47 rifles, 10 rocket propelled grenade, two RPG tubes, large quantity of assorted ammunitions and eight assorted magazines.

"In a related development, based on intelligence, a special operation was conducted by the JTF which resulted to the arrest of two high profile Boko Haram commanders that were responsible for the explosions in Maiduguri on Thursday , 28 February, 2013 during some state governors meeting in the state. Those arrested are in JTF custody undergoing interrogation," the statement added.