Photo: Boko Haram terrorists
Nigerian troops have rescued 86 civilians abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants during operations along the Damaturu–Buratai–Biu Road in northeastern Borno State, the army said on Monday.
The rescue was carried out by soldiers from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the military’s joint task force in the Northeast, who intercepted the militants around Dutsen Kura on November 9, a senior military officer said. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly.
The troops engaged the insurgents near Dutse Kura and pursued them toward Mangari, overpowering them in a follow-up encounter, the officer said. The militants fled after troops destroyed 11 makeshift structures used as a camp.
Eighty-six people — including men, women and children — were freed, while arms and vehicles were recovered. Items seized included an AK-47 rifle, five magazines with 73 rounds of ammunition, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles and two logistics tricycles, the military source said.
In a separate operation in Mangada, troops arrested 29 suspected logistics suppliers to Boko Haram while they were transporting goods to Chilaria. Recovered materials included two pickup vans, a tricycle loaded with about 1,000 litres of petrol, four gallons of engine oil, two new truck tyres, medical supplies and large quantities of foodstuffs.
The military said the operations were completed without any casualties among troops. Senior commanders commended the soldiers’ “gallantry and professionalism” and urged them to maintain pressure on insurgents across the northeast region.
Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISWAP, have waged a 15-year insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands despite repeated military offensives.
