By Chimezie Godfrey
Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have rescued 119 travellers abducted by terrorists in Borno State, neutralised several insurgents and arrested suspected collaborators during military operations across the country between Nov. 6 and Nov. 12.
The operations also led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, explosives, motorcycles and other items, while several terrorist camps and hideouts were destroyed.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Friday while briefing journalists on the operational activities of troops across the various theatres.
Onoja said the operations involved coordinated rescue, clearance and offensive engagements aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting criminal activities and restoring security across the country.
He said troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 119 abducted civilians at Buratai in Biu Local Government Area of Borno on Nov. 6 after receiving information that terrorists had blocked the Dutsen Kura-Bulazarma-Kamuya Road and abducted travellers.
According to him, the troops pursued the terrorists along the Mangari-Dora Road, forcing them to abandon their captives.
The rescued victims comprised 69 adult males, 35 adult females and 15 children.
Troops also discovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the terrorists in the area.
Onoja said troops subsequently recovered a PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles, three magazines and 125 rounds of ammunition following an attack on their location around Kalla Maula in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.
He added that troops rescued abductees and recovered a vehicle during a patrol along the Monguno-Maiduguri Road on Nov. 8.
In Adamawa, troops, working with local security groups, rescued a woman and two other residents at Dutse-Uku in Mubi South Local Government Area on Nov. 9.
The victims’ vehicles and farm produce were also recovered and handed over to them.
The defence spokesperson further disclosed that troops repelled an attack on their location at Zangular Kilba Junction in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa on Nov. 10.
During the operation, two terrorists’ bodies were discovered, while two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 115 rounds of PKT ammunition were recovered.
In another engagement along the Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Buni Gari Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe, troops neutralised a terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle.
Onoja said four terrorist fighters and 13 members of their families surrendered at different locations in Borno between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8.
One of the fighters surrendered with an FN rifle and seven rounds of ammunition.
He said nine family members, including two women, were handed over to Nigerian troops by the Cameroonian Defence Force at Banki.
The surrendering fighters and their families reportedly attributed their decision to leave the terrorist enclaves to sustained military pressure and internal conflicts among rival factions.
Troops also arrested suspected terrorist collaborators, informants, spies and logistics suppliers at various locations, including Tashan Kano in Maiduguri and Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.
The arrests at the two locations brought the number of suspected collaborators, informants and spies apprehended to 15.
Additional operations led to the arrest of two suspects allegedly supplying provisions to terrorists at Kwatan Turare Gate in Doron Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA sustained operations against terrorists and kidnappers in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states.
Onoja said troops cleared Barayazaki, Gurusu, Gwashi and Nassarawa communities and adjoining forests in Bukkuyum and Anka Local Government Areas of Zamfara on Nov. 7.
The operation led to the rescue of two kidnapped victims.
He said troops also engaged armed terrorists on two motorcycles at Yarcantar Gora in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina on Nov. 10, neutralising one of them.
The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, five magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a motorcycle and three mobile phones.
In Zamfara, troops responding to an attack and kidnapping of commuters along the Kombo-Gurusu Road in Bukkuyum Local Government Area on Nov. 11 rescued three victims.
However, the body of the vehicle’s driver was recovered and evacuated.
In Sokoto, troops arrested two suspected terrorists, a father and his son, with an AK-47 rifle at Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area.
In the North-Central, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE cleared terrorist camps at Dajin Madam in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi on Nov. 8 under Operation UNITY HAVEN.
The operation forced the terrorists to withdraw, with bloodstains observed along their escape routes, suggesting that some of them might have sustained injuries.
Troops recovered 135 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, two motorcycles, radios, mobile phones and camouflage uniforms during the operation.
In a separate encounter near Kukawa Village, troops neutralised two terrorists and recovered two motorcycles.
Onoja said the Emir of Bogwas subsequently handed over six AK-47 rifles and six magazines to troops on Nov. 10.
The weapons were reportedly surrendered to the traditional ruler by armed elements following the military operation at Dajin Madam.
In Plateau, troops conducting a clearance patrol around Kukawa along the Wanka Village axis in Kanam Local Government Area neutralised a fleeing terrorist on Nov. 9 and recovered four motorcycles and two mobile phones.
The defence spokesperson said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE also sustained operations against armed groups and kidnapping networks in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
In Taraba, troops conducted a clearance operation at Komodoro Village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area on Nov. 9, forcing terrorists to flee across a river into Plateau State.