Nigeria: Military Bombards Terrorists' Camps

 Following the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday, and the deployment of over 3000 troops and Counter Terrorists Squad (CTS) within 24 hours of the declaration, the military, yesterday, launched air and ground offensive in the thick forests of Sambisa, Borno State, an area which the Boko Haram sect was reported to have used as a recruiting and training base.

A curfew (6 pm to 6 am) has also been imposed in the three states while banks and other public and government businesses have also been instructed to suspend their operations.

 In a related development, Mobile phone service was turned off yesterday in Borno and Yobe, stifling social life and business activities in two of the three states affected by the proclamation of state of emergency on Tuesday.

There was no official statement on why the cell phone services were turned off, but insurgents were believed to have used mobile phones to remotely detonate bombs in the past.

Army Aircraft Hit By Boko Haram In Borno

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that a military aircraft was on Friday hit by Islamic insurgents in Borno State in the on-going operations across northeastern Nigeria.

The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade confirmed the attack and revealed that the aircraft managed to return to base after the encounter.

The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade had told journalists that Nigerian forces used jets and attack helicopters to bombard Islamist militant camps in the northeast on Friday, killing a number of insurgents.

Brigadier-General Olukolade said that several camps had been attacked, including the Sambisa game reserve in Borno State.

Asked for more details about the shot military plane, Brigadier-General Olukolade declined to give further details, saying more information would be given after mop-up operations on the ground.