by Rachel Ogbu

About 50 terror suspects have been killed in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government of Borno State, by operatives of the Joint Task Force.

A security source told reporters that, “over the weekend, we received an intelligence report that several Boko Haram terrorists had regrouped and were hiding in Zabarmari. We mobilised our troops to the area, and on reaching the place, the suspected terrorists upon noticing our presence, began to shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is Great) and started shooting at the JTF troops.”

“We, therefore, had no option but to repel the attacks and we succeeded in killing about 10 of them,” he said.

“We decided not to take away any of the corpses, but the following day, we found out that hundreds of the terrorists had regrouped and were burying the corpses, and when we approached them, they started shooting at our troops and this resulted in the exchange of gun fire. However, we succeeded in killing over 40 of them.

“As I am talking to you now, our men are still in Zabarmari hunting for more of the terror suspects, who might have escaped the encounter.”

“On Saturday, the civilian JTF boys were able to arrest three suspected Boko Haram members at the Borno Express Motor Park.

“They later handed them over to the JTF unit, and after torture, one of them, who later died, said they were from Bama Local Government on a suicide mission to Jigawa and other states in the North.”

The Punch reports:

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Sunday, said the country had made great progress in the fight against terrorism.

Ihejirika, who stated this at a service to mark the 2013 Army Day Celebrations, at the All Saints Military Protestant Church, Abuja, however, added that there was need for more work to rid the country of the masterminds of the vice.

The Army chief also said the soldiers involved in the fight against terrorism had displayed a positive commitment to the ongoing operations.

“Winning the war starts from in-house. I am aware of the improved capacity of the units, improved capacity of the officers and men, and this gives me the confidence that we will excel.”

The Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, commended the Armed Forces for ensuring the peace and unity of the country in spite of the security challenges.

The Army, she said, had every reason to celebrate because its officers and men were among the best in the world.

Obada said the Army, said its officers and men were had distinguished themselves during peacekeeping operations under the United Nations.