LAGOS
A total of 22 terrorists had been killed in different operations by multinational troops in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, the Nigerian military said late on Saturday.
"Troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force yesterday cleared a terrorist camp in Buduram, north of Doron Braga, where terrorists were massing up and reorganizing to carry out a reprisal after being routed in Doron Bags in a previous encounter last Sunday," the military said in a statement.
"Seventeen terrorists died in the operation, while some who escaped into neighboring islands in the Lake Chad Peninsula are still being pursued," it added.
The military added that five additional terrorists were killed in another encounter with troops in Doron Baga.
"Calm has, meanwhile, been restored in Doron Baga after the Sunday attack by terrorists who infiltrated the community with some of them disguising as women in hijab [headscarves]," the military said.
The statement of the military comes only hours after defense spokesman, Chris Olukolade, said on twitter that "we can confirm repelled terrorist attacks on Doron Baga, (but we are) yet to ascertain widely reported claims of mass abduction with community/security."
Locals and security sources had reported the abduction of at least 97 men and children from the community, months after over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants.
The girls remain in captivity, drawing national and international outrage over the uncertainty of their fate.
There were reports last month of insurgents taking over and hoisting their flags in Damboa after reportedly routing security agents.
The Nigerian military said the town has been recaptured, even as neither this claim nor the claim of the insurgents could be independently verified because of the current state of emergency in the state since last year.
The government imposed emergency in the state in its bid to curb a five-year insurgency in it.
By Rafiu Ajakaye
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
