Troops rescue 86 kidnap victims, crush terror camps in Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have rescued 86 kidnapped persons and thwarted a terrorist ambush during a series of coordinated operations across Borno State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the OPHK Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.

According to him, troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, under Sector 2 of OPHK, encountered Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters at Dutse Kura on Sunday while responding to distress reports of abductions along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.

The soldiers reportedly engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, pursuing them towards Mangari where a follow-up operation led to the destruction of 11 makeshift terrorist camps and the rescue of several captives, including men, women, and children.

Recovered items from the scene included one AK-47 rifle, five magazines loaded with 73 rounds of ammunition, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles.

In a separate operation, troops stationed at Mangada intercepted 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers heading towards the Chilaria axis of Borno.

Uba said the suspects were caught with two pickup vans and a tricycle carrying about 1,000 litres of petrol, engine oil, new gun-truck tyres, medical supplies, and large quantities of foodstuffs intended for insurgent camps.

He added that the Military High Command had commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, urging them to maintain the momentum and continue denying terrorists freedom of movement and action across the North-East theatre.