Nigerian troops currently battling Boko Haram insurgents in the dense Sambisa Forest in Borno State were forced to retreat after a landmine explosion killed a Nigerian soldier and three members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).
Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said: “The operations especially in forest locations are progressing in defiance of obstacles and landmines emplaced by the terrorists.:
According to a civilian JTF member who spoke anonymously to AFP, the development has forced the troops to retreat.
He said: “Boko Haram have buried landmines all over the routes leading to their camps in the forest, which is no doubt a huge obstacle retarding the military offensive against them.
“We decided to turn back since the route was unsafe. As we were driving back, one of the vehicles carrying CJTF (Civilian Joint Task Force) hit a mine.
“A soldier and three CJTF were killed while another soldier was injured. We trudged along and made it back to Bama on Wednesday.
“There are no soldiers in Sambisa right now. We all returned to Bama after the horrifying experience of manoeuvring through minefields.”
“Boko Haram are in large numbers in Sambisa.
“All their fighters who were pushed out of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa (in Borno state) all moved to Boko Haram camps in Sambisa.”
