A wall painted by Boko Haram is seen in Damasak March 24, 2015. B REUTERS/Joe PenneyAt least five Nigerian soldiers have returned after many went missing on July 20 following an ambush by Boko Haram, the Army said in a statement on Saturday. The soldiers returned early Saturday.
About 19 soldiers and three civilians were wounded in Borno state following the attack by a group of ruthless militants that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in March last year.
“We wish to inform you that the search party has this morning found 5 more officers and soldiers that were declared missing in action, including the unit’s Commanding Officer,” said Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman.
Colonel Usman said “concerted efforts were initiated to search for and rescue them”.
The measures included the use of air assets, Special Forces and patrols, he said.
“Although they are in a stable condition, have been moved to our Medical facilities for medical care,” he added.
In neighbouring Cameroon, Boko Haram claimed on Friday that it had killed 17 soldiers in Fotokol, according to a report by Site Intelligence Group, which monitors terror activities around the world.
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks in recent weeks in Cameroon and Nigeria, killing dozens of people and confronting the Army.
The terrorists have killed at least 25,000 people in Nigeria since 2009 and over 1300 in Cameroon since 2013. More than two million others remain displaced and at least 500, 000 children pulled out of school remain without education.
Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari declared Boko Haram defeated in December last year and Cameroonian President Paul Biya has vowed many times that the terrorists would be defeated. But months after months, Boko Haram has remain a threat even with the multinational joint task force.