Boko Haram: Troops Free 5,000 Hostages, Kill 10 Terrorists in Borno State

Nigerian troops in the Operation Lafiya Dole have rescued 5,000 hostages from Boko Haram and killed six of the terrorists in recent clearance operations in parts of Borno State, North-East Nigeria.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday that the troops of 21 Brigade and Civilian JTF conducted a fighting patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages in which they killed six Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others on Sunday.

Usman disclosed: “The troops also liberated over 5,000 persons held hostages by Boko Haram terrorists and recovered five motorcycles and similar number of bicycles”.

Similarly, he said, troops of 7 Division Garrison Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) II, in conjunction with some of elements of Mobile Police Force and Civilian JTF today also conducted Boko Haram terrorists clearance operations at Masu Yiwa, Ladin Buta, Bazaka, Kesa Gala, Tabla, Fahinde, Shirori, Gizina, Maska Aribe, Maska and Maska Lawanti villages, all in Mafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.

He said that during the clearance operations, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Maska Lawanti in which they killed  two terrorists and recovered two motorcycles.

“Unfortunately, we lost one Civilian JTF, while a soldier and one Mobile Policeman were wounded in action. The body of the heroic Civilian JTF and the wounded soldier and his police counterpart have since been evacuated to Maiduguri.

“While we commiserate with the families of the departed Civilian JTF, we wish to state that the wounded are in stable condition and responding to treatment,” he stated.

In a related development, Usman said the troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and some vigilantes had alsoon Sunday embarked on a fighting patrol along Kusarha-Zalidava general area .