Heavy Explosions In Maiduguri Hours After Troops Recaptured Marte From Terrorists

Heavy explosions have been reported in Maiduguri outskirt, hours after military troops successfully recaptured Marte and cleared its environs from ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists.

BIGPENNGR understands the attack believed to be retaliatory one from Boko Haram fighters who launched multiple motar bombs at the outskirt of the city.

Recalls that “Gallant” troops of Sector1 and 402 Special Forces Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, had on Tuesday afternoon re-captured New Marte from the Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists.

Hours after the military onslaught, multiple explosions was said to have ripped through Gwange, Layin Bori and Bulabulin axis of Maiduguri city.

A source who preferred anonymity, the terrorists were suspected to have sneaked into Ngomari through Kaleri, forcing residents of the area to scamper for safety.

A team of special forces headed by one Lt. Col. Ponfap Wuyep, Commander 195 Battalion Jere engaged the terrorists around Baram Karwa community in the area of the city, forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray.

Meanwhile, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said that the operations to free the town from the grip of terrorist was clinical even though it met a lot of resistance from the criminals who implanted several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the troops’ axis of advance, especially on the fringes of New Marte.

He said that the troops moved in professionally and safely detonated all IEDs implanted by the terrorists.

“At the fringes of New Marte, troops encountered very stiff resistance from the terrorists who took vantage positions including on tree-tops”, he said.

However with superior fire power, acting professionally and decisively, the gallant troops destroyed the terrorists’ resistance and dealt a decisive blow on their positions and inflicted heavy casualty on the criminals.

Consequently, 14 of the terrorists were neutralized while two gun trucks and Vehicle-Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) were destroyed and several high calibres of arms, ammunition and other equipment were captured.

Recall that the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, had on Sunday 21 February 2021 visited Dikwa and gave the troops marching orders to re-capture New Marte within 48 hours.

The gallant troops immediately mobilized and commenced advance to the objective culminating in the successful recapture of New Marte today.

The Chief of Army Staff has commended and congratulated the troops and urged them to keep up the momentum, pursue the terrorists and smoke them out of their hideouts and enclaves.