Nigerian Military Rescues 275 Hostages, Clears More Boko Haram Enclaves

• Kills 15 terrorists, arrests six others in Borno
  Discovers IED tools in primary school

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
Following its ongoing operations against Boko Haram in the North-east, the Nigerian military has again rescued about 275 hostages and dislodged terrorists remnants from their enclaves in some parts of Borno State.

In the latest offensive, the troops also killed 15 terrorists, arrested six others and recovered several items and weapon making materials.

This was disclosed in a statement signed monday by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, saying the military recorded many successes at different operational areas in Borno State.

Usman said troops from the 152 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with those from Sector 1 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) last Sunday carried out clearance operations in suspected terrorist hideouts around Madawaya general area, cleared an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory, killed 15 terrorists and recovered some weapons.

The troops, he noted, cleared terrorists in Madawaya, Jere, Kardile, Koujili, Ngenere and Maksamari as well as Douse, Bembem, Zombulum and Taraji villages.

In addition, he said, they recovered several vehicles and motorcycles.

“They also discovered and destroyed the Boko Haram terrorists’ IED making factory at Bula Umara and killed 15 terrorists in the same area. In addition, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, four fully loaded magazines with 7.62mm ammunitions two power generating sets, welding machines, assorted batteries and solar panels,” he stated.
Usman listed other items recovered by the troops to include drums of beans and other grains as well as bandolier.
“The gallant soldiers also rescued 275 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists. One interesting thing is that, one of the rescued persons gave birth to baby boy shortly after their liberation. Both mother and the child are doing fine.

“The troops have continued with their clearance operations to other suspected hideouts of the Boko Haram terrorists in their areas of operations,” he said.

In a related development, Usman said the troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, Army Headquarters Strike Group (AHQ SG) accompanied by some Civilian JTF on fighting patrol to Boboshe, Garna, Kyare, Kadawu, Gineba and Ajiri arrested six Boko Haram terrorists and recovered IED making devices last Sunday.

“Although the fighting patrol team found Boboshe village virtually empty, they however recovered eight industrial gas cylinders and five regular gas cylinders at a primary school being used to make IED, and also recovered a pickup vehicle,” he said.

The army spokesman explained that the patrol team captured three Boko Haram terrorists at Kadawu and recovered four motorcycles, three bicycles; one solar panel and two liquid herbicides.
At Garna, he added, the troops also captured three and recovered seven locally made guns from them.