Troops from the 1 Division Kaduna, 3 Division Jos and TRADOC, Minna succeeded in killing over 40 Boko Haram members yesterday, September 9, during a fierce battle at Vimtim in Adamawa state, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

They also succeeded in reclaiming Michika, Uba and Gulak towns which had been captured by the terrorists, Vanguard reports.

According to a military source, as the troops concentrated in the city centre, the insurgents had encircled them from all angles of Vimtim and a gun battle ensued but unknown to the insurgents, the newly deployed soldiers arrived and joined the battle, attacking from behind which led to killing of over 40 insurgents while others fled.

Three officers and two soldiers were said to have been injured in the bloody encounter and they are currently receiving treatment at a military facility.

17 Hilux vehicles, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) mounted on their Hilux vehicles and several Anti-Aircraft guns (AA weapons) were recovered by the military while several surface-to-air missiles were destroyed and four were taken away by the troops.

It was gathered that the General Officer commanding the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Zaruwa was personally directing the counter-insurgency operation.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday said it had the capacity to counter the ongoing insurgency and art of its measures to curb the activities of the insurgents would be to focus on the source of funding and weapons used by the insurgents.

Vimtim, Badeh’s hometown is about 30 minutes drive from Mubi along the highways on the Yola–Maiduguri road.

The attack on the hometown of Alex Badeh came not long after the son of former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was shot and wounded by the insurgents at Bazza, the hometown of the General Officer commanding, GOC 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Major General J.S. Zaruma.

Sources claimed that after about a week of violent fights over Bama, Borno state which had

been overrun by Boko Haram,   the military finally recaptured the town, forcing insurgents out of the area.

The insurgent through its spokesperson, Abu Zinnira had debunked the report, claiming they were still in full control of Bama and Borno state.

However, the Nigerian authorities officially confirmed that the military had recaptured Bama.