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Troops kill six insurgents, arrest nine, rescue 472 hostages in Borno

By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
05 May 2016   |   2:43 am
Troops of 27, 120 Task Force Battalion and Brigades and 7 Division Garrison of Nigerian Army in conjunctions with vigilantes have killed six terrorists with arrest of nine others in the Gotumba-Aluwa...

Nigerian-Troops

Buratai visits soldiers to boost morale

Troops of 27, 120 Task Force Battalion and Brigades and 7 Division Garrison of Nigerian Army in conjunctions with vigilantes have killed six terrorists with arrest of nine others in the Gotumba-Aluwa axis of Borno state at about 9.25a.m yesterday.

During the clearance and interception operations, the troops also rescued 472 people held hostage in various captured and cleared villages in the state.

Among the arrested terrorists, Bulami Budu, who had escaped along with other suspects from Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri in March 2014, was picked up at the Old Maiduguri metropolis.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman disclosed these yesterday in a statement to newsmen in Maiduguri.

Usman said “Today (Wednesday) at about 9.25a.m, troops of 120 Task Force Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with vigilantes while on patrol, intercepted five Boko Haram terrorists logistics team at Gotumba area trying to move logistic items to suspected Boko Haram hideouts at Aluwa, using five donkeys. The terrorists on sighting the patrol team ran and abandoned the items.”

He said the troops pursued and killed three of the terrorists, while two escaped with gunshot wounds.
Usman said, “The items recovered include three packets of Tramol, two packets of Lamumol, seven packages of Really Extra, two packets each of Viagra and Ulgra, and 14 tablets of washing soap.

Usman said troops morale remain very high, especially as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai stayed back yesterday to visit troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists along Bama and Banki junction.

Preliminary investigations, according to Usman, indicated that Budu, who hails from Aiwa village in Mafa Local Government Council of Borno State, was one of the detained terrorists at Giwa Barracks, before they escaped along with his colleagues in March 2014.

“Boko Haram attacked the Giwa Barracks facility and released all the insurgents on that fateful Friday,” said Usman in the statement.

He added, “His arrest would further lend credence to Nigerian Army investigation on the incident about the number of casualties killed by the terrorists and those that escaped that day. He is currently being interrogated by the Joint Intelligence Committee.”

On the capture of other terrorists, he said, “The 22 Brigade on its part has conducted clearance operation in which it cleared four towns and villages of Boko Haram terrorists, while nine of them hidden in fox holes and dug outs were found out and captured.

“The troops also recovered weapons and rescued 400 persons held hostages by the terrorists. This is in addition to the recovery and handing over of 300 cows rustled by the terrorist.”

Usman however, noted, “Yesterday afternoon, troops of 3 Battalion convoy from Dikwa to Gambouru/Ngala unknowingly stepped on series of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried by suspected Boko Haram terrorists between Gajibo and Logomani. Sadly, we lost a soldier, while four other sustained injuries.

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