Troops kill 45 Boko Haram terrorists, rescue 80 hostages in Borno

Troops of the Nigerian military have killed 45 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect and rescued 80 women and children in Borno State.Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sani Usman, who disclosed this yesterday in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital, said the terrorists were killed in a military clearance operation conducted in Garere Village of Kukawa Local Council of Borno State.

He said the troops, on getting reports of the sect members regrouping at the village, went there and diffused their strategies.Usman, who disclosed that 80 captives, comprising 38 women and 42 children, were rescued during the three-hour operation, said: “This military operation followed an intelligence report on the convergence and massing up of the insurgents in the area. The report also revealed that the Boko Haram terrorists were planning attack on communities in the area.

“The operation tagged “Operation Tiger Claw” followed a confirmed intelligence report on the convergence and massing up of dislodged Boko Haram terrorists at Garere village in Kukawa.

“During the operation, 42 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while unconfirmed number of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds. Similarly, 38 women and 42 children held captives were rescued from the insurgents.”

He said the women and children had been taken to the military medical facility in Baga for medical checkup and treatment. The spokesman said the patrol team also recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 162 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one Land Cruiser Jeep, 34 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

He also noted that 55 motorcycles that were used by the insurgents were demobilised during the clearance operations. Besides, troops on routine patrol to secure and make Kumshe-Banki Road open, were ambushed by four suspected Boko Haram terrorists.“The troops engaged them and three of them died as a result of gunshot wounds. The lone survivor is currently being interrogated. He is said to be giving out useful information”, the statement further said.