Army kills 34 insurgents, rescues 455 in Borno

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 455 captives of Boko Haram in Borno State.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement on Saturday, said the troops of the 3 Battalion, who rescued the hostages, also killed 27 insurgents during an operation at Wulge and Walamari, as well as seven others who launched an attack from Sambisa Forest.

He said that the rescued captives had been taken to the camp of internally displaced persons at Gamboru.

Usman said, “In the early hours of Friday, some Boko Haram terrorists in five gun trucks, motorcycles and two Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices from Sambisa forest attempted an attack on the 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka.

“The vigilant troops successfully repelled the attack and killed seven Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered four AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition.

“The troops organised a fighting patrol comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari and had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered five motorcycles and eight bicycles.”

The acting army spokesman said the troops carried out the raid when they arrested a Boko Haram spy near the headquarters of their Battalion at Gamboru Ngala, who led them to the insurgents’ hideout.

Usman added that the troops of 103 Battalion ambushed some Boko Haram terrorists at Mairimri village, killing an unspecified number of them and that 15 bicycles and foodstuffs were recovered.