The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen O. A. Ihejirika, on Friday gave details of the exchange of fire between soldiers and members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, saying the army killed about 50 members of the sect while three soldiers died in the exchange of gun fire.

The police authorities also confirmed that Boko Haram members gunned down Yobe State Assistant Commissioner of Police, (Operations), I. Abubakar.

Ihejirika, who was giving accounts of the operations of the Army in 2011, said experiences learnt in the outgoing year would guide the army in performing better next year.

According to him, “last night, there was major encounter with Boko Haram at Damaturu and as I speak, the operation is still ongoing. The Boko Haram brought into use some heavy arsenal and I want to inform you that we have been able to run down their major stronghold after several hours of encounter and their armour dump in Damaturu was also destroyed.

“We lost few men as it was expected in a major encounter and the Boko Haram also lost several men.

“The situation is still ongoing, but I believe by this time tomorrow (today), the dust would have settled.

“In the encounter, we lost three soldiers and a total of seven wounded as at early Friday morning. By yesterday afternoon, Boko Haram would have lost approximately 50 men, and the arsenal they used would have been destroyed.

“We have learn't lessons from the challenges and it was a year full of activities and I do not expect the challenges to diminish too soon, so we are building on the experiences of 2011 to face 2012 .

“The challenges are well known to us. First and foremost, the challenges of security, the challenges of new phenomenon, of terrorism, and it is good to note that based on the lessons, we are able to put up structures better placed to address these challenges”, he said.

The Chief of Army Staff also mentioned a number of other things achieved by the Army especially on accommodation.

As he put it, “on accommodation, the soldiers did not talk about accommodation because they have seen the ongoing effort. We have just completed two blocks of building in Mogadishu that can take approximately 80 men though it is a transit accommodation not for families, but that will ensure that soldiers on duty do not sleep under make-shift arrangement.

“We are also building three blocks for warrant officers and senior SCOs. Those ones are two bedrooms each. So, that will reduce the problem and there are plans to build more accommodation; that of the officers would be addressed when we complete the transit camp.

Speaking on accommodation for officers, he disclosed that 20 houses have been completed in Life Camp and another project started by his predecessor in office, adding that the 38 flats in Yar'Adua Barracks would be completed in two weeks.

He disclosed that the 32 flat-transit accommodation which he initiated were at the final stages of completion, assuring that he would do more as funds become available.