Troops, local hunters destroy Boko Haram hideouts after Miringa attack in Borno

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have carried out a clearance operation across suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, hideouts in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State following the recent attack on Miringa community.

The development was disclosed in a report by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst covering the Lake Chad region.

According to the report, the operation commenced in the early hours of July 10 and was conducted by troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion in response to the terrorist attack on Miringa.

Makama reported that the troops operated in four combat teams alongside 25 local hunters from Buratai and Kurnari communities, supported by an EQ-series tactical vehicle, three gun trucks and 15 motorcycles.

“The combined force advanced into the Mangari, Bulazarma and Dora axis – areas believed to have served as movement corridors and temporary staging grounds for fleeing terrorists after the attack,” the report stated.

The report added that troops carried out cordon-and-search operations across the affected areas in an effort to track fleeing insurgents and recover hidden arms, ammunition and other logistics.

Makama further reported that although no direct contact was made with the suspected terrorists during the operation, troops identified and destroyed several makeshift shelters believed to have been used by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters as temporary hideouts and assembly points.