Troops rescue 86 kidnapped victims, destroy terrorist enclaves in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai Joint Taskforce of the North-East have rescued 86 kidnapped victims and destroyed a major Boko Haram/ISWAP camp in a decisive operation in Buratai–Kamuya axis of Borno State on Sunday.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Sani Uba (Lieutenant Colonel), Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai to newsmen in Maiduguri.

The feat, recorded on Sunday by troops of 135 Special Forces Battalion, Buratai, followed a distress alert from surveillance cameras indicating the movement of terrorists kidnapping civilians along the Buratai–Kamuya road.

Sani said the troops at Echo 1 (Dutse Kura) came under heavy attack at about 1552 hours, prompting the troops, to lead a Quick Response Force to reinforce the position.

The reinforcements successfully repelled the attack and pursued the fleeing terrorists deep into the Mangari axis.

During the hot pursuit, the terrorists attempted to escape with two vehicles containing kidnapped civilians. Troops overwhelmed the fighters in a subsequent ambush encounter, forcing them to abandon the vehicles and retreat further into the bush.

A search-and-rescue operation that followed led to the discovery of a makeshift Boko Haram/ISWAP camp, where 86 kidnapped victims men, women and children were rescued unhurt.

Items recovered from the camp include: One AK-47 rifle, five magazines loaded with 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles and two logistics tricycles. The troops destroyed the terrorist enclave at the site.

In a related development, acting on credible intelligence, troops deployed at Delta 1 location, Mangada, arrested 29 suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers at about 1826 hours the same day.

Eight of the suspects were confirmed as active logistics couriers for terrorists, while items recovered from them include: Two logistics pickup vans loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), one tricycle filled with PMS, 38 jerry cans of PMS, four gallons of engine oil, two new gun-truck tyres, medical supplies for treatment of gunshot wounds and large quantities of food items and provisions.

The suspects and recovered items are to be handed over to 27 Task Force Brigade for further investigation.

The latest offensive, according to military sources, point to the intensified tempo of operations aimed at crippling Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics networks and denying terrorists freedom of action within the North-East theatre.