Jubilation as troops kill 5 Boko Haram fighters in Yobe

Habibu Idris Gimba, Damaturu

There was jubilation in Geidam town, Geidam LGA of Yobe State after military operatives killed five suspected Boko Haram members and arrested one Wednesday night.

Daily Trust gathered that several AK-47 rifles and motorcycles belonging to the insurgents were recovered during the incident while other terrorists fled with gunshot injuries.

A businessman in the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that the residents were happy with the development, saying the activities of Boko Haram insurgents on the outskirts of Geidam had increased in recent days.

‘‘We are happy with the quick response of the Nigerian Army Troops here at Geidam by killing five Boko Haram members. This development is coming at the time many farmers were afraid to go to farms as a result of the increase in their attacks.

‘‘In the last two months, they killed over 3 security officers and threatened farmers. People were complaining that the security operatives were not doing enough to tackle the problem so the military was not happy with this which is why troops of Operation Lafiya Dole tried to reduce the attacks,’’ he said

Daily Trust reports how suspected insurgents had attacked a customs house in Geidam town, killing one officer identified as Usman Gombe last Saturday.

Another community leader in Geidam, Ambassador Khalid Geidam, said the military engaged the terrorists ‘following credible information about Boko Haram activities around Jororo.

‘‘Gallant troops of 159 Battalion Geidam led by the commanding officer raided the Boko Haram enclave in Jororo and killed five (terrorists), arrested one, and recovered several AK-47 rifles while others fled with gunshot injuries,’’ he said.