No fewer than 12 suspected operatives of notorious jihadist group Boko Haram were neutralised Wednesday by troops of the Nigerian Army in Yobe, Peoples Gazette can report.

Military sources told the Gazette on Thursday that the gallant servicemen of 159 Battalion, deployed in Sector 2 of Operation LAFIYA DOLE — an army formation involved in counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast — botched an attack by the dreadful sect, leading to multiple terrorist casualties.

The insurgents were said to have launched an offensive with one vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), a gun truck and an undisclosed number of foot soldiers but were successfully repelled by the troops.

Two soldiers were confirmed injured in the fiery exchange, with many terrorists suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

Our sources said that a drone belonging to the military was damaged in the duel, as the soldiers equally destroyed the insurgents’ VBIED and gun truck.

The troops also captured various equipment from the assailants, including one anti-aircraft gun, a general-purpose machine gun, 10 AK 47 rifles, one grenade and a variety of ammunition.

“General situation calm but highly unpredictable; troops morale and fighting efficiency remain satisfactory,” the correspondence stated, adding that the embattled soldiers were in urgent need of military supplies.

The Gazette learnt that troops of 402 Special Forces Brigade had deployed ambush teams and drones to forestall further attacks by Boko Haram.