TroopS of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at harbour in Kangarwa, Borno State, on Sunday, killed 16 suspected insurgents and repelled others.
According to the Army spokesman Sani Usman, the attack was launched by the terrorists about 5.30pm.
“The troops received an alert and rose to the occasion. They dealt a decisive on the insurgents, killing 16, and recovered arms and ammunition.
“Weapons recovered include one Rocket-Propelled Grenade 7 tube, one Rocket-Propelled Grenade bomb, 11 AK-47 rifles, a 60mm Mortar tube, five AK-47 rifle magazines, one Gionee mobile phone and a Bandolier.
‘’Unfortunately, an officer and 11 soldiers were injured in the encounter,” he said.
Usman added that the injured were treated at the unit’s medical facility and are in stable condition.
The troops also arrested four persons – a member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Aliyu Jibrin, 24, and Ismaila Baba, 22, a student of Ramat Polythechnic, Mohammed Suleiman, 25, a driver and his assistant Mohammed Bukar, 15, for attempting to steal armoured cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Col Usman said the suspects were arrested at 1.20 am yesterday.
“The patrol team intercepted Aliyu Jubril, 24, a youth corps. member, Ismail Baba, 22, a student of Ramat Polytechnic, at Silo on Maiduguri-Damboa road while attempting to cart steal armoured cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
He said the suspects were being interrogated and would soon be handed over to the appropriate security agency.