Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued 86 kidnapped victims and arrested 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers during coordinated counter-insurgency operations across Borno State.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, who said the operations also foiled a terrorists’ ambush and led to the destruction of several insurgents’ hideouts.
According to Uba, troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Sector 2, OPHK, encountered Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters at Dutse Kura on Sunday while responding to reports of abductions along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.
He explained that the soldiers engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, pursued them towards Mangari, and overpowered them in a follow-up encounter that resulted in the destruction of 11 makeshift terrorists’ structures.
“Eight victims, including men, women, and children, were rescued in the operation,” Uba said, adding that recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, five magazines with 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles.
The statement also revealed that troops deployed at Mangada intercepted and arrested 29 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers heading toward the Chilaria area of Borno.
The suspects were reportedly caught with two pickup vans and a tricycle loaded with 1,000 litres of petrol, engine oil, new gun truck tyres, medical supplies, and large quantities of foodstuff, allegedly meant for insurgent camps.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism, and swift response, urging them to sustain the offensive to deny terrorists freedom of action across the Northeast theatre.
The Operation HADIN KAI command reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region and called for continuous public cooperation in providing timely information to aid ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
(NAN)
