UPDATES: Body of Emir of Gwoza recovered – DHQ

The Nigeria's Military Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday said the body of Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idris Timta, who died when Boko Haram gunmen attacked a convoy of three emirs had been recovered. The gunmen attacked the convoy of emirs of Gwoza, Uba and Askira who were travelling to Gombe for the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information. The statement said that troops deployed in Garkida responded to the attack and the emirs of Uba and Askira were secured.

It said that troops were currently on patrol along the entire route with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and keeping the area safe. According to the statement, the troops of the Special Task Force (STF) operating in the North-Central part of the country have led to the arrest of 23 members of armed gangs terrorising the area.

Military, Boko Haram Encounters: Hundreds of terrorists killed, 20 soldiers missing in Sambisa Forest fight

An estimated 2,000 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in a combined operation by Special Forces and the men of the Nigeria Air Force on Friday and Saturday in the volatile Sambisa Forest of Borno State, which has become a prominent hideout of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Punch reports that that would have been a great victory for the Special Forces was, however, marred by an operational misunderstanding between the ground troops and the officers in the Air Force Alpha Jet. Investigations revealed that 20 soldiers are still missing as a result of the operational misunderstanding.