November 10, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Operation Hadin Kai Joint Taskforce in the North-East have rescued 86 kidnapped victims and destroyed a major Boko Haram/ISWAP camp during a decisive operation along the Buratai–Kamuya axis of Borno State on Sunday.
In a statement to journalists in Maiduguri, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, said the operation by troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, Buratai, followed a distress alert from surveillance cameras showing the movement of terrorists kidnapping civilians along the Buratai–Kamuya road.
The troops stationed at Echo 1 (Dutse Kura) came under heavy attack at about 15:52 hours. A Quick Response Force was deployed to reinforce the position.
The reinforcements successfully repelled the attack and pursued the fleeing terrorists deep into the Mangari axis.
During the pursuit, the terrorists attempted to escape with two vehicles containing kidnapped civilians.
Troops ambushed the fighters, forcing them to abandon the vehicles and retreat further into the bush.
A subsequent search-and-rescue operation led to the discovery of a makeshift Boko Haram/ISWAP camp, where 86 kidnapped men, women, and children were rescued unharmed.
Items recovered from the camp included one AK-47 rifle, five magazines loaded with 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles.
The troops destroyed the terrorist enclave in situ.
In a related operation, based on credible intelligence, troops at Delta 1 location, Mangada, arrested 29 suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers at about 18:26 hours the same day. Eight of the suspects were confirmed as active logistics couriers for terrorists.
Items recovered included two logistics pickup vans loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), one tricycle filled with PMS, 38 jerry cans of PMS, four gallons of engine oil, two new gun-truck tires, medical supplies for treating gunshot wounds, and large quantities of food and provisions.
The suspects and recovered items will be handed over to the 27 Task Force Brigade for further investigation.
Military sources said the latest offensive highlights the intensified operations aimed at crippling Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics networks and denying terrorists freedom of movement in the North-East theatre.
