The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has visited the Nigerian Army troops in the front line of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno.
The morale boosting visit followed an ambush by the Boko Haram terrorists at Gasarwa village, along Gajiram-Monguno road in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno on Saturday.
According to Col. Sagir Musa, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the troops were of Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole attached to the Super Camp in Monguno.
He said that the troops devastated the terrorists along Monguno-Mairari-Gajiram axis.
According to him, the patrol team came in contact with the terrorists and engaged them with heavy fire that neutralized many of them while a few escaped with gun shot wounds.
In the encounter, Musa said the gallant troops recovered some weapons and equipment from the terrorists.
“Sadly, during the encounter, 3 of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while 8 other soldiers sustained injuries.
“The bodies of the fallen heroes and those that sustained injuries have since been evacuated and the wounded are being treated and are in stable condition.
“The highly motivated troops have continued combing the general area with a view to clear remnants of hiding terrorists,” he said.
Musa explained that Buratai, who arrived Maiduguri on Friday, proceeded to the scene of the incident in company of some Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters.
He later went to Monguno military barracks where he held meetings with the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and other Commanders.
Furthermore, the CoAS visited the hospital where some wounded soldiers were receiving treatment before returning to Maiduguri on Saturday.
He thereafter received the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi at the Nigerian Air Force base Maiduguri.
Before departing the base, the minister inspected the fighter jets and other air force equipment and was briefed on their operations.
He also had dinner with Borno elders and top military officers in Maiduguri, according to Musa.
