NIGERIAN security forces have secured another major victory in their ongoing battle with Boko Haram after seizing a village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State and capturing a tunnel capable of housing more than 3,000 fighters and over 200 vehicles. 

In a continuation of the ongoing war against the terrorist insurgents, the Nigerian Army managed to dislodge them from the area after a 48 hour gun battle in Alagarno village. According to eyewitness accounts, the fleeing insurgents left behind assorted arms and ammunition, including vehicles with anti-aircraft missiles mounted on them. 

Alagarno is 45 kilometres from Maiduguri and has been a Boko Haram stronghold over the last two years used for various activities, including the training of recruits, organising attacks and hiding hostages.  One military source said that after being dislodged from dozens of communities in northern and central parts of Borno State, the insurgents intensified shuttling between Sambisa Forest and Alagarno. 

After weeks of surveillance and mapping, fighter jets and ground troops were deployed to Alagarno for an operation that is still ongoing. Previous attempts to gain control of Alagarno have proved difficult but the Nigerian Army has finally managed to get hold of the village. 

“Hundreds of the terrorists have been killed during aerial reconnaissance and ground operations which started days ago and is still ongoing. We are making serious progress because we ensured that all their escape routes have been blocked before the latest operation began,” the military source added. 

He pointed out that after the Nigerian Army we took over Gwoza, Boko Haram leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau relocated to Alagarno area and he is still on the run. Military chiefs are confident of catching the elusive Shekau as the area in which he operates shrinks as government troops gain more ground.