Nigerian Troops Force Boko Haram To Flee Balmo Forest, kills 20

The Defence authorities have said that the troops of the
Nigerian Army have captured the Balmo Forest,
believed to be one of the major hideouts of insurgents
in the North-East.
The Balmo Forest links Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa
states and it is said to host some of the training
programmes of the insurgents.
The Defence authorities said in some tweets posted on
the twitter handle of the military on Tuesday that 20
insurgents were killed with an unspecified number
injured in the fierce encounter to capture the fortified
forest.
It was stated that the special forces recovered some
rifles and motorcycles during the raid on Balmo and an
adjoining Lame forest.
It was further stated in another tweet that the soldiers
carried out a separate raid on Hildi, Adamawa State and
recovered "some documents, including sketches , list of
communities apparently slated for attack."
According to the tweet, the special forces also killed
seven insurgents and recovered five rifles, hundreds of
rounds of ammunition, bow and arrows from the
fleeing insurgents in the Hildi operation.
It added that six of the soldiers, who were injured in
the attack, were being treated.
It said that the military was conducting the operation
against the insurgents on the land and in the air in
various fronts.
The tweets read, "The campaign against terrorists'
activities is continuing with air and land operations
being conducted in various theatres in parts of the
country.
"A total of six soldiers were wounded in the encounter;
troops have eventually taken control of Lame Forest
location. Over 20 terrorists lost their lives in this
encounter while some were reported wounded.
"Troops recovered a number of rifles and motorcycles
after a stiff resistance by terrorists was rushed…."
In a related development, troops of the Nigerian Army
on Tuesday locked down Gombi Local Government Area
of Adamawa State following an attack on a village in the
area known as Ganda.
A security source said that the soldiers killed a very
large number of the insurgents during the fierce
encounter with the insurgents in the early hours of
Tuesday.
The source said that the troops, who were deployed in
large number for the operation, imposed a no-
movement order on Gombi to prevent the fleeing
insurgents from escaping.
The movement restriction was said to be in force until
2pm on Tuesday, when it was relaxed.
The security source said that the intensified operation
in Adamawa State had resulted in serious cash scarcity
and sufferings in the area.
It was stated that all the banks in the area, from
Madagali, Gombi, Michika, Mubi and other major towns
in Adamawa State had been closed down to avoid being
raided by the insurgents
It was stated that indigenes of the area could only go to
Yola to withdraw funds.
The source said, "You know that things are very difficult
here; all the banks have closed shop here. If they open,
the Boko Haram members could raid them. So, to
withdraw money is very difficult.
"People here will go to Yola to join long queues to
withdraw money. At times, you might be there for the
whole day; you might not achieve your mission. It is
only in Yola that you have banks in operation…"