At least 85 Boko Haram hostages mostly women and children have been rescued in Chukungudu on the fringe of Lake Chad by troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army, in Operation Lafiya Dole, led by the General Officer Commanding of the Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu.
Sani Usman, Army Spokesman, in a statement on Sunday, said the superior firepower of the military forced the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state to run into the Lake Chad water while the sect lost five of its men in the fierce encounter.
“The manoeuvring brigade led by 3 battalion of 22 brigade, successfully cleared Geram, Bulankassa and Chukungudu believed to be the Boko Haram terrorists strongholds in that area,” Usman said.
“The gallant troops rescued 85 people, comprising of mostly women and children held hostage by insurgents.
“The troops recovered four rounds of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, one Double Barrel Gun, 349 packets containing various rounds of ammunition, three magazines, a link belt of machine gun ammunition and one AK-47 rifle magazine.
“In the factory, they found several already primed suicide bombers’ vests. They also discovered a well-equipped motor vehicles and motorcycles’ workshop and spare parts warehouse at Chukungudu village.
“The troops recovered three vehicles and several newly acquired motorcycles. Unfortunately, a soldier died during the encounter.”
Chukungudu, on the southern fringes of Lake Chad Region in the northern part of Borno state, is a strategic hub town from where Boko Haram conducts its strategic operations.
Story by Oputah David
