Two Top Boko Haram Leaders Escape As Soldiers Overrun Camps

Two senior Boko Haram commanders have escaped while other ranking militants were killed after Nigerian troops overran their camps in an area straddling Yobe and Borno states.

Two military sources told Nigeria News on Thursday that soldiers aided by fighter jets overran Dole camp in the so-called “Timbuktu triangle”, on Wednesday.

According to the sources, the two Boko Haram commanders, Modu Sulum and Ameer Modu Borzogo fled along with some fighters during intense fighting while other commanders were killed.

They disclosed that the two leaders were believed to have fled to Lake Chad, where the group maintains camps on the islands dotting the freshwater lake.

The sources added that several hostages were rescued from the camps while dozens of vehicles seized from kidnapped hostages were recovered.

According to them, the terrorists have been in control of the area since 2013 when they seized it and established a strong presence, especially in the Talala area, which became the second-largest Boko Haram camp outside the group’s Lake Chad stronghold.

They noted that the troops took over Talala last month after a fierce battle in which six soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive-laden vehicle among troops.

One of the sources said the route leading to Dole was mined by the terrorists and troops accessed it on foot, engaging the terrorists in a fierce battle with air support.

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