Army arrest 20 terrorists, rescue 32 women, children in Borno

Troops of 73 and 202 Battalions of the Nigerian Army have arrested 20 Boko Haram terrorists in the Bama Local Council of Borno State.

They also took custody of eight suspected insurgents along with their family members comprising 10 women and 22 children at Ruwaza village of the council.

In a statement, yesterday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed that the suspects and their family members surrendered to the army during military operations in Bama/Damboa axis.

He said the surrendering insurgents’ families were 15 women and 26 children, disclosing that the children were given polio vaccines, while the women were screened for preliminary investigations before handing them to the state government.

In a related development, Troops of 73 Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) in conjunction with Civilian JTF and hunters intercepted Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics suppliers along Molai/Damboa Road.

On sighting the suspected suppliers, the combined team mobilised and stormed the location where they were arrested along the road leading to Sambisa Forest.

“They were perfecting plans to deliver logistics to the insurgents in the forest,” he said.

He said the items recovered from the suspects include a vehicle, four kegs of petrol, a gallon of engine oil, a motorcycle pump and oil treatment.

Other items recovered include a torchlight, mosquito net, two praying mats and blankets, four spanners, 10 packets of batteries and three dozens of rubber patch solution and food items.