• Rescues aid workers, recover arms
• 135 B’Haram fighters, families surrender
Troops of 151 Task Force Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised 47 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered three Hilux vehicles in Sambisa Forest of Borno State.
Also, no fewer than 135 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Nigerian Army in Bama Local Council of the state.
The soldiers also rescued two humanitarian aid workers, while patrolling the south fringe of the Forest on Saturday.
A counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri that the terrorists were killed while the troops, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hybrid forces, stormed their hideouts at Gargash in Bama.
He said the terrorists were hibernating in the general area to launch attack on Banki, a border community with Cameroun, before the troops intercepted them.
According to him, the rescued humanitarian workers were abducted in Monguno last year.
MAKAMA disclosed, yesterday, that the surrender of the terrorists followed the sustained offensives by OPHK in Sambisa Forest.
The counter-insurgency expert said the terrorists laid down their arms a week after troops of 21 Armoured Brigade of OPHK and the 199 Special Forces Battalion in collaboration with CJTF stormed the terrorists’ hideouts.
“About 35 terrorists were killed in the joint operations in Bama local council areas,” he added.
The Guardian gathered that the surrendered terrorists and their family members, including three males, six females and 13 children, were from Nguru Soye and Kelani villages.
Similarly, a male, five females and six children are from Kauri, Siraja and Lene Hassana villages surrendered to troops of 151 Battalion at the Banki Junction along Bama/Gwoza road.
“There was additional 113 insurgents from Balangaje, Bula-Waziri, Bula-Kurma and Sabil-Huda villages that surrendered to the troops of 192 Battalion in Yamteke,””he added.
All the repentant Boko Haram terrorists, according to him, were handed over to the authorities for profiling.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maj. Gen. A. E. Abubakar, charged the gallant troops to defeat the terrorists and restore peace in the North East.
IN Anka Local Council of Zamfara State, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD), yesterday, ambushed bandits at Anka, a point leading to Dan Kampani, killing three of the hoodlums and recovering arms and ammunition.
Spokesman of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj-Gen. Musa Danmadami, noted that troops made contact with the bandits, and following a gunfight, three of the terrorists were neutralised.
He said: “Items recovered are, one PKT gun with 48 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, three AK-47 rifles, three magazines with 63 rounds of7.62mm special ammunition and three motorcycles.
“The military high command commends troops of OPHD and encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on terrorists and other criminal activities within their area.”
The Guardian gathered that the area had been facing series of terrorists’ attacks in recent times. Presently, many residents are reportedly unable to attend the subh (morning) prayer due to fear.
