By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA — TWENTY SEVEN suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by Nigerian troops in operations carried out in Adamawa and Bauchi states even as documents containing a list of communities about to be attacked and sketches of the towns were captured from fleeing terrorists.

File photo strategizing: The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minima (left); his Air Force counterpart, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (middle) and General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen John Zaruwa, aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane strategising with the aid of maps in the ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, during a visit to the area, weekend.

During another special raid operation conducted on Balmo and Lame forests linking Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa states, the troops recovered rifles and a number of motorcycles. Over 20 of them lost their lives while some were reported wounded.

The Defence spokesman, General Chris Olukolade, who confirmed the incidents said six soldiers were wounded in the encounter.

At the end of the encounter, troops eventually took firm control of the forest location.

Borno, Adamawa residents laud military

Meanwhile, the people of Adamawa have commended the military for curtailing the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the state.

The army had recently succeeded in recovering areas occupied by insurgents in Mubi-North, Mubi-South, Gombi and Hong local government areas.

A cross section of the people who spoke on the successes recorded against the sect members said the development was a big relief to the residents of the state.

“I was thinking of leaving Yola for Abuja or Lokoja when Boko Haram took over Mubi and other areas, but with this development, I am now relaxed and hope to do my Christmas here,” Peter John said.

Tizhe Kwada, Ibrahim Abdulrahman and Felix Vandi, who hailed from Michika town, commended the efforts of the military and called for steady military advance to cover Michika and Madagali local government areas.

“I want them to sustain the tempo and cover Michika and Madagali local government areas to make it a total liberation of the territories in Adamawa,” Vandi said.

Ahijo Idris and Aliyu Lokuwa, who hail from Mubi, said they were happy with the development and would love to go back whenever the military gave the order for people to return.

“There is still restriction of vehicular movement, whenever the military gives the green light for people to return a lot of us are set to rush back home.

“ Our crops are due for harvest and many of us are eager to go back home and harvest,” the residents said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Malam Haruna Furo, has visited Mubi and other areas affected by the mayhem.

Furo said the agency was assessing the situation with a view to taking necessary measures before the residents could return home.

Meanwhile, the Borno chapter of the Nigeria Vigilante Group, said it would continue to collaborate with the military in order to consolidate on the successes recorded against the insurgents.

An official of the group, Malam Muhammed Sani, said this in an interview with NAN in Maiduguri.

“We are fully prepared and we will continue to support the military in winning this war; and I can boastfully say that no Boko Haram can enter this city to defeat us.

“They are cowards, that is why they are sending unsuspecting female bombers to attack the cities, but we have devised means to track down any bomber that enters this town.