Twenty-five 25 hostages have been rescued from the captivity of Boko Haram following unrelenting efforts by troops to clear remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) enclaves in Borno and contiguous states, Troops of 144 Battalion
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the troops in conjunction with Hybrid Force, extricated 14 hostages in a clearance operation at Gobara village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state on Saturday.
Confirming the development, the Director, Army Public Relations said, “The rescued persons include six women and eight children”.
“In a similar operation on Sunday, troops of 82 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Hybrid Force, raided BHT enclave in Gava Village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State and rescued 11 civilians.
“All rescued victims are presently in troops’ custody undergoing profiling.
“In a separate operation also on Sunday, seven members of a BHT family surrendered to troops of 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The family comprised three adults and four children.
He added that in another anti-banditry operation on Sunday in Kaduna State, troops of 2 Battalion, acting on actionable information neutralized one criminal and freed four kidnap victims in Kwana Shehu Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The rescued victims have since been reunited with their families.
“Members of the public are please enjoined to support the troops with credible information to enhance ongoing operations across the country.”
In a related development, troops of Operation Safe Haven, OpSH have arrested 17 persons suspected to have committed some crimes within their areas of operation in Plateau and Kaduna States. Among those arrested are persons who allegedly killed an octogenarian on his farm last week at the Rahwol Gassa community in the Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
The Media Information Officer of OpSH, Captain James Oya who confirmed the development said, “Troops of Operation Safe Haven on Operation Hakorin Damisa IV, from 21 to 28 August 2023 arrested 17 criminal suspects in connection with murder, kidnapping and armed robbery as well as recovered arms/ammunition and illicit drugs.
“The troops arrested five murder suspects for killing one Mr. Joshua Deme in his farm in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops also carried out a sting operation at Jagindi Tasha village in Jema’a LGA, Kaduna State, where a suspected kidnapper, Baba Yusuf Habu who has been on the wanted list of OpSH was arrested. Another kidnap incident was foiled at Angwan Takai village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State by the troops.
“Troops raided the hideout of criminals at Gwash and Kamantan villages in Jos North/Zango Kataf LGAs of Plateau and Kaduna States; and recovered one pistol, cartridges and rounds of 7.62mm special. A notorious armed robber Mohammed Lawal was also arrested in Kafanchan town by troops and two fabricated rifles and one pistol were recovered.
“In the same vein, troops intercepted a truck with registration number EKY617XF conveying vandalized railway tracks along road Gidan Ado village in Riyom LGA of Plateau State. Also, a drug kingpin, Maxwell Davou was nabbed during a sting operation with substances suspected to be illicit drugs at Waye Foundation, Du in Jos South LGA. Furthermore, a fighting patrol made contact around the Alaghom and Mangu axis leading to the neutralisation of some bandits. Troops recovered 1 X AK-47 rifle and another fabricated rifle.”