‘Troops killed 100 Boko Haram insurgents, but lost 29 soldiers’ – Military clarifies

The Nigerian military said over 100 Boko Haram terrorists were killed at a clearance operation in Gorgi, but not 500 and 200 as respectively given by secondary sources.

The military explained that the updated figure contradicts the number of Boko Haram casualties given at their initial media briefing. Major General John Enenche, Coordinator of Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), who gave the clarification in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday, said the over 100 insurgents were neutralized as a result of direct fire action and encounter with gallant troops during the clearance of Gorgi between 21 and 23 March, 2020.

His words: “Following the encounter between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and insurgents in Operation Lafiya Dole at Gorgi… a team was sent to carry out the due operational after-action procedure which include, reconfirmation of casualties and immediate medical evacuation required among others.”

On the findings after the exercise, the DDMO Coordinator said: “the team made the following findings: Twenty Nine (29) Nigerian troops were killed and Thirty Nine (39) were wounded in action, as a result of the explosion of the truck carrying logistics and ammunition resupply for the fighting echelon.

“This is contrary to the figures from the first conduct situation report of Forty Seven (47) killed and Fifteen (15) wounded in action.” Enenche, who added that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (ODL) successfully cleared Gorgi and also dealt a heavy blow on the enemies of the State, assured that the Armed Forces remains committed to decisively tackling insecurity in the country.