The Nigerian Army has vowed that they will do everything possible to take terrorists out of the battlefield.
Defence spokesman, Major General Edward Buba, made this promise in a statement on Tuesday following the recent bomb attacks in the Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
“Over the weekend, troops of Joint Task Force OP HADIN KAI in the North-East theatre recorded a series of reprehensible terror attacks in Gwoza LGA of Borno State” Buba said.
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“The coordinated attacks comprised of multiple Person Bourne Improvised Explosive Device ( PBIED), otherwise known as suicide bombings.
“All the attacks took place on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The first was recorded at about 1500hrs, when a female suicide bomber disguised as a beggar invaded a wedding reception at Mararaba Hausari Street and detonated Improvised Explosive Device.
“Thereafter, at about 1700hrs, while efforts was on to stabilize and move casualties of the initial explosion to hospital for further treatment, there was a second detonation from another female suicide bomber. The second explosion was on the same street and in close proximity to the first explosion.”
READ ALSO: Gwoza bomb blasts ‘error we didn’t see coming,’ laments Borno Govt
Buba said troops immediately imposed a curfew on Gwoza in order to get members of the community indoors and prevent further casualties.
However, while troops and hybrid forces were enforcing the curfew, a third explosion rocked the area.
The third explosion targeted the troops enforcing the curfew. The troops were attacked from behind by a third lady strapped with an IED vest. The explosion
killed a soldier and two members of hybrid forces.
The fourth incident was averted when the suspect was identified early enough and she detonated the bomb prematurely whereby she became the only casualty.
“Given that we are in a state of war, it must be recognised that this despicable act is a response to recent successes in ongoing military operations,” Buba said.
“Indeed, our recent operations have decapitated the leadership of the terrorists, depleted their resources, reduced their support base and reduced their influence.”
He pointed out that clearly, the terrorists embarked on these cowardly attacks against innocent citizens to project an image of strength to cover their weakness and decline.
“Citizens must see through the smoke screen of the terrorists. We must realise that the terrorist aims to counter the reports of their weakness and create panic in the general population,” he stated.
“The military is aware that in this phase of their ending life-cycle, the terrorists are desperate to attract attention, bolster relevancy, mobilise new recruits, reduce support for the armed forces and reduce support for the government.
“The fate of the terrorists that perpetrated these insecurity will be violent and short as troops will stop at nothing to take them out of the battlefield.”
Accordingly, Buba said the military calls on Nigerians to stand united, remain vigilant, and continue to support efforts of the armed forces to ensure a secure and peaceful future.
Source: guardian.ng
