Nigerian troops have rescued at least 41 persons being held by Boko Haram in Borno State, the Army said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that troops also raided cattle rustlers and armed bandits in Zamfara State.
Army spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said the operations were carried out on Tuesday by “the combination of ground forces assault, Nigerian Air Force Jets provision for combat air support and monitoring of the operation directly by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division”
“In continuation with the special clearance and rescue operations otherwise known as Operation CRACKDOWN, within the Sambisa forest, troops of 7 Division have yesterday Tuesday, 17th May 2016, cleared Boko Haram terrorists out of their Njimia camp within Sambisa forest.
“While advancing earlier in the morning on the same day, the troops also cleared Boko Haram terrorists camps at Alafa, where they encountered heavy resistance from Boko Haram terrorists and killed 15 of them.
“The troops continued their advance through Alafa Main, Alafa Extension and Alafa Yaga-yaga, where they cleared remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating there before arriving at their main objective, Njimia.
“Apart from destroying the camps, the troops rescued 41 hostages who were mostly women and children. The troops also recovered 2 Dane Guns, several vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles belonging to the terrorists,” he said.
In Zamfara State, also on Tuesday, troops of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army operating under the auspices of Operation MESA raided suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits camp at Yan Mangu forest, near Dandindin village, Maru Local Government Area of the State.
“The troops also arrested 2 bandits and recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 7 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions, 3 locally made guns and 1 motorcycle.
The two suspects were arrested while attempting to flee from the camps”.