Troops rescue 195 captives from Boko Haram

A Boko Haram market destroyed by Nigerian troops in Gulumba, Borno State... on Thursday. Photo: Defence Headquarters

The Nigerian Army has rescued 195 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram sect.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Thursday that soldiers also recovered 300 cows, 200 sheep and 130 goats stolen by the insurgents.

Usman said that the troops of the 7 Division Garrison comprising the 112 Battalion and the Armed Forces Special Forces, who jointly attacked the camps of the insurgents on Wednesday, also recovered camouflages, rifle magazines and grenades from the insurgents.

He said that the troops cleared Boko Haram locations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State.

The spokesman said that the successes recorded against the terrorists were made possible by the cooperation from the civil populace who volunteered information.Usman said that the troops, who killed a large number of insurgents in the operation,   also recovered items including   “two logistic trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles and various perishable and non-perishable items such as a 100 KVA Mikano generator and grinding machine.”

He commended Borno people for cooperating with the armed forces in their bid to flush out the remnants of the insurgents from the North-East and other parts of the country.

He said, “The Nigerian troops of 7 Division Garrison comprising 112 Battalion and Armed Forces Special Forces yesterday carried out a joint clearance patrol on suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ locations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State.

“Many of the terrorists were killed and several items were recovered. They included two trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles and various perishable and non-perishable items such as a 100 KVA Mikano generator and a grinding machine.

“In addition, they also rescued 195 persons held hostage, recovered 300 cows, 200 sheep and 130 goats rustled by the insurgents. The troops also recovered military items such as camouflages as well as rifle magazines and grenades.”

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