Troops Clear Boko Haram Enclaves, Rescue 197 Hostages

•Kill three terrorists

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The troops of 26 Battalion, 151 Task Force Battalion, 155 Task Force Battalion and some elements of 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have carried out a joint clearance operations to destroy remnants of Boko Haram terrorists camps and enclaves in the early hours of yesterday in several villages in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

To this end, the security forces have rescued over 197 hostages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in parts of the North-east.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said that villages including Kircha Goniye, Wujjah Alkelu, Kita Jiddum, Jameri, Geri Gana, Gere Kura, Jabe and others cleared by the troops were Hasana Jere and Chachile.
During the operation, Usman said, the nation’s troops came in contact with elements of the terrorists group during which two of the terrorists were killed.

He said that the troops further recovered five Dane guns, two mobile telephone handsets, three Boko Haram terrorists flags and a power generator as well as several vehicles.
In a related development, he said, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison on blocking position also encountered a convoy of Boko Haram terrorists on motorcycles same day in which they killed one Boko Haram terrorist and recovered three motorcycles, a bag containing cash sum of Four Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand Naira (N466,000.00).

In addition, he said, the troops rescued eight abducted persons made up of two women, two female teenagers, three male children and a minor who unfortunately sustained injury and is receiving treatment at the unit’s medical facility.
According to him, information gathered from the rescued persons revealed that they were abducted from Ngoshe Bara village, Gwoza Local Government Area by the Boko Haram terrorists and taken to Sambisa forest in 2015 and married off to Boko Haram terrorists.

He said: “They however relocated to Lake Chad general area prior to their rescue by troops.
“Interestingly, one of the women, Fatima Mohammed, already a mother of two children, lamented that her husband, Mallam Mustapha, a retired District Court Judge in Gwoza, was killed by the terrorists before her abduction. The rescued persons are being screened to further ascertain their status.”

“As part of their contribution to the well being of the Internally Displaced Persons, 22 Brigade Field Ambulance has been carrying out medical outreach at Dikwa Internally Displaced Persons camp in which quite a number of persons benefitted from the exercise where they were diagnosed and treated for various ailments most of which ranged from various degrees of body wounds to trauma,” he added.

Usman also said that some elements of Boko Haram made an attempt to attack 122 Task Force Battalion location at Yamteke from Galthani and Balangaje general area which was successfully repelled as quite a number of the attackers were killed.

He said the troops of 117 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade conveyed 40 IDPs from Madagali to Burnt Bricks IDP camp for proper rehabilitation after thorough screening and profiling.

Similarly, he said, early Wednesday morning, troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, intercepted and rescued another 15 IDPs suspected to have come from Madube.
The Army Spokesman listed the IDPs to comprise of seven women and eight children, adding that all the rescued were being screened and profiled.
Usman said that on their part, 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with troops of 111 Special Forces Battalion and the Civilian JTF have been performing guard and escort duties of civilian vehicles moving between Maiduguri to Damboa.

He explained that this was in line with the ongoing efforts of reopening and securing Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road for innocent citizens and commuters.
It is instructive to note, he said, that no fewer than 300 vehicles were escorted on daily basis by the units.

He said that the units and the supporting elements of the Civilian JTF also escorts Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to various parts of Borno State to provide humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons.

Usman stated that the troops also received 134 Internally Displaced Persons from Abadam which comprised of 38 male adults, 34 women and 62 children that arrived Njimtilo check point at the outskirt of Maiduguri.
The IDPs, he said, were thoroughly screened by the combined team of the Military Intelligence, Department of State Services (DSS), Police, the Civilian JTF, and “were later taken an IDP camp for proper management and rehabilitation”.

In a related development, he said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has continued to provide air reconnaissance and airlift of Commanders to visit troops.
According to him, the F-7 Fleet conducted armed reconnaissance over Maiduguri, Karetu and ether locations, while the Mi 17 airlifted the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division from Mubi to Bitta and back to Maiduguri.

The DAPR said that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu has in addition also visited troops 28 Task Force Brigade and Emir of Mubi. Similarly, he visited troops of 114 Task Force Battalion where he urged them to continue to uphold the uncommon courage and battle resilience which the Division was noted for.

He said that Ezugwu also visited troops of 117 Battalion as well as that of 115 Task Force Battalion and 7 Division Strike Forces in Chibok as well as 25 Task Force Brigade Headquarters. In all instances, he encouraged them to keep the Nigerian Army flag flying.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai on behalf of the families of late Colonel Samaila Inusa, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, lauded the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase for tracking and arresting the kidnappers and murderers of the late senior officer of the Nigerian Army and smashing the deadly kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate.

Buratai specifically commended the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Kaduna State Command Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) operatives for their dedication to duty and professionalism that led to the arrest of the criminals that abducted and killed the late senior officer in Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State on March 27, 2016.

“This unprecedented feat is a clear manifestation of the excellent cooperation existing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police which had flourished over time in joint operations to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians,” he said.

The COAS also urged personnel of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police to continue working hard towards sustaining the excellent cooperation and synergy between them.