Nigerian forces bombard Islamist militant camps fr
By Lanre Ola
MAIDUGURI | Fri May 17, 2013 1:34pm BST
(Reuters) - Nigerian forces used jets and attack helicopters to bombard Islamist militant camps in the northeast on Friday, in their biggest military offensive since Boko Haram launched an uprising in 2009.
"A number of insurgents have been killed," the defence headquarters spokesman said, including at the Sambisa game reserve in Borno state, the epicentre of the insurgency.
"It is not just Sambisa, every camp is under attack. But we have not done the mopping up operations on the ground to determine the numbers killed," Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade said by telephone. A military source, who declined to be named, said at least 30 insurgents had been killed.
Nigerian forces are trying to regain territory controlled by increasingly well-armed Boko Haram Islamist insurgents in their northeastern stronghold states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, put under a state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday.
More troops arrived in the Borno state capital Maiduguri on Friday, witnesses said.
"I saw more than 20 trucks loaded with soldiers fully kitted for battle towards Marte. I wish them luck in ending this BH (Boko Haram) madness," resident Ahmed Ibrahim said by telephone.
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https://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/17/uk-nigeria-violence-raids-idUKBRE94G0AA20130517