Nigerian Army announces rescue of 5000 Boko Haram hostages

About 5,000 people were rescued from the Boko Haram by soldiers and members of the vigilante, Civilian JTF, the Nigerian Army has said.

The Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, also said a member of the Civilian JTF was killed on Saturday during the battles with the Boko Haram.

Mr. Usman, a Colonel, in his statement also said weapons, ammunition and transport equipment like motorcycles were recovered from the raided camps around Mafa, a local government headquarter about 40km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said a policeman, a soldier and member of the Civilian JTF who sustained injuries during the battle have been moved to the Maiduguri hospital. The body of the dead vigilante has also been moved to the Maiduguri hospital, he said.

The Army has in the past year retaken most of the territory initially occupied by the insurgents whose activities have caused the death of over 20,000 people since 2009.

Read Mr. Usman’s full statement below.

“Troops of 21 Brigade and Civilian JTF today conducted a fighting patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages in which they killed 6 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others. The troops also liberated over 5,000 persons held hostages by Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 5 motorcycles and similar number of bicycles.

“Similarly, 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 of Borno State.

“During the clearance operations, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Maska Lawanti in which they killed 2 terrorists and recovered 2 motorcycles.

Unfortunately, we lost 1 Civilian JTF, while a soldier and 1 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.

“In a related development, troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and some vigilantes also embarked on fighting patrol along Kusarha-Zalidava general area today. The patrol team encountered some elements of Boko Haram around Zalidava-Weige villages in which they killed 2 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with registration number FN 132125, a belt of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition containing 42 rounds. Sadly, one of the vigilantes sustained an injury on his eye. However, he is getting better”.