As troops continue offensive operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in North-east, the Army has said troops deployed at its various locations within the theater of operation have rescued 13 women and 17 children from captivity of the terrorists.
Media coordinator of the Nigerian Army operations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu said in a statement that the breakthroughs were achieved in operations conducted between February 24 to March 2, 2020.
Details of the statement revealed that troops of 171 Battalion deployed to Madagali, Adamawa state, rescued three women, while troops of Strong Response Area deployed in Gwoza, Borno state, rescued a woman and her child.
Troops of 152 Battalion and 21 Special Armoured Brigade deployed in Bama, Borno state in conjunction with elements of Borno State Civilian Joint Task Force (BSCJTF) rescued nine women and 16 children who were hitherto held hostages by terrorists. They also killed three terrorists during the clearance operation to Bula Gudi and Safa villages.
Also, troops of 144 Battalion deployed in Madagali killed three Boko Haram terrorists when they attempted to infiltrate a military base. This was even as troops of 19 Brigade under Operation Ayso Tmonuma in Baga, Borno state, killed three Boko Haram terrorists during an operation conducted along the terrorists route. Although two soldiers sustained various degree of injuries during the operation.
“On 1 March 2020, troops of 192 Battalion deployed at Gwoza successfully sprung an ambush at a Boko Haram Crossing Point at Fadagwe Muni general area. During the encounter, one Boko Haram criminal was neutralized while several others were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.”
The statement said that on 24 February 2020, two Boko Haram members: Abu Abor, 61, and Abubakar Hassan, 51, both of Chadian nationality surrendered to troops of Army Super Camp 11 Gamboru in Borno state after sneaking out of Bagadaza in the Lake Chad.
“The two suspects revealed that they were in the Shekau Faction and had to escape due to overwhelming troops’ artillery bombardments and ground assaults for months that have fractured their command structure forcing many among their leadership to desert thus leaving them to their fate,” the statement said.
The statement said troops have recovered large cache of arms and ammunitions from the terrorists during the operations conducted at different locations.
