Troops foil terrorist attempt to occupy Damaturu while Mission to reclaim Baga is ongoing

Find the military press statement below
Troops are on mopping up operation
around Damaturu after successfully foiling
and containing the terrorists attempt to
occupy parts of the town. The terrorists
had launched massive attack from
different directions of the town on Friday
evening, but troops were promptly
mobilized to repel the attack that lasted
the night resulting in heavy casualty on
the terrorists before the rest of them
retreated. Weapons including IEDs and
Rocket Propelled Grenades captured from
the terrorists are being compiled while
their dead as well as civilian casualties are
yet to be determined.
Pursuit of the fleeing terrorists is also ongoing
while the 5 soldiers who were seriously
wounded in the attack are being treated in the
military medical facility. Although normalcy
has been restored, the town is also being
reinforced with more troops. More details
later.
Meanwhile the situation in Baga is still being
studied to determine the appropriate action
that will restore law, order and normalcy to
the community after the attack mounted by
hundreds of heavily armed terrorists last
weekend. A total of 14 soldiers were killed in
action during the attack, while over 30 who
were wounded are now receiving medical
attention. Most of those declared missing in
action have also rejoined their unit in the
ongoing reorganization for further operations.
Although several of the terrorists died in the
course of the attack and efforts at repelling
the assailants, the actual figure of civilian
casualties is yet to be creditably determined as
is being propagated in certain quarters.
The Nigerian military has not given up on Baga
and other localities where terrorists activities
are now prevalent. Appropriate plans, men
and resources are presently being mobilized
to address the situation. The Nigerian
component of the Multinational Joint Task
Force which retreated from its Baga
Headquarters last weekend and more of the
troops are regrouping for necessary debrief
and briefing for subsequent missions.
It is necessary to reassure Nigerians that the
Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies
are capable of flushing out the terrorists from
Baga and all parts of the nation's territory
where their activities are prevalent. No
portion of Nigeria's territory has been or will
be conceded to terrorists.
The use of all available resources within the
armed forces will continue to be maximized to
sustain the tempo of the counter terrorism
campaign towards containing and eradicating
terrorism in the nation's territory. The support
and understanding of all partners and
neighboring countries will however continue to
be utilized where available and relevant in the
conduct of the mission and in line with existing
agreement and understanding.