Nigerian troops have killed 63 Boko Haram terrorists and intercepted suicide bombers this week (January 18-22, 2016).

The Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Hassan Umoru, made the disclosure yesterday at a media briefing in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

Represented by the Deputy Commander, Major General Lucky Irabor, General Umoru said that the troops also recovered many AK47 rifles, ammunition, Anti-Aircraft Gun, RPG, GMPG, IEDs, vehicles and motorcycles – among other items – from the terrorists during the time period.

He said: “Our troops conducted a fighting patrol at Afe, Kudiye, Souma, Dikwa Mijigeta, Mida villages of Borno State. During the operation our troops came in contact with Boko Haram terrorists at Kudiye and Mijigete, where 370 hostages were rescued and brought to IDP camp in Dikwa and 3 rifles and 41 motorcycles were destroyed.”

General Umoru revealed that the troops also cleared some Boko Haram hideouts in Wala, Tirkopytir and Durubajuwe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, where they recovered GMPG, locally made Dane gun and a grinding machine.

He said that in Huyum in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, the terrorists, upon sighting the troops, abandoned their families and fled, which include five women and 12 children currently undergoing interrogation

The commander stated that the troops equally intercepted three suspected suicide bombers trying to infiltrate Maiduguri through Maiduguri Mafa checkpoint.

He said two female suicide bombers detonated the explosive which killed them instantly, while the male suicide bomber was immediately gunned down while trying to run into the troops at the checkpoint.

General Umoru commended the efforts of the troops and renewed his call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious at all times, especially at checkpoints, worship centres, markets, motor parks and schools.

•Photo shows Nigerian troops on the hunt for Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.