Week of Rescue; How Army helped 4,890 villagers to freedom in Boko Haram cleared camps

Week of Rescue; How Army helped 4,890 villagers to freedom in  Boko Haram cleared camps
By Blogger
(As published in Leadership February 27, 2016)

At least 4890 captives and displaced persons have been helped out of captivity and wandering in the wilderness in last week when troops of the Nigerian Army moved into hinterlands of Local Governments in Central Borno to clear territories controlled by Boko Haram insurgents, Army officials said. 

Children Rescued by Nigerian Troops 

The gallant Nigerians, who would in some cases operated in joint tactical  collaboration with forces of the Cameroonian military ensured hundreds of Boko Haram did not slip through the tighten border before they would be gunned down.

Refugee women and children in thousand who would have been either killed or abducted while crossing over from Cameroon back to Nigeria were also saved and led to safe IDP camps.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Colonel Sani K. Usman, said this feat was being achieved while the nation's Chief of Army Staff, led a personal patrol of most of the cleared territories in Borno and part of Yobe state.

Rescued Women and Children Being Helped by Soldiers 

Colonel Usman said in a stayement that troops have been of high morale during most of the operations.

"Those rescued include 800  Nigerians refugees that crossed to Cameroon that were brought back to Banki town in Nigeria by troops of 21 Brigade yesterday", said the  Director Army Public Relations .

"Troops of 121 Task Force conducted  joint patrols with Cameroonian forces at Mararraba, Angwan Fada, Dale and Wizha Bokko Timit, Bokko Nasanu and Bokko Hidde up to Ngoshe in which they rescued 17 women and 28 children.

Some of the Rescued Refugees from Cameroon 

"Similarly, troops of 7 Division Garrison, in a joint operations with 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and Armed Forces Special Forces at Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare, Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja, and Marya in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas rescued 350 people including 5 Cameroonian girls that were held hostages by the Boko Haram terrists in those areas.

"In a similar operation, troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction  with troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, and Armed Forces Special Forces on 17th February 2016,  conducted clearance operations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma'asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas  in which they rescued 195 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.

"On 23rd February 2016, troops of 21 Brigade in conjunction with troops of MNJTF on clearance operations at Kumshe general area, rescued 250 and persons, mainly women and children held hostages by Boko Haram terrorists and brought back 800 refugees from Cameroon. On 23rd  February 2016, troops of 7 Division rescued 150 persons at Kodo.

Arms and IEDS Recovered by Nigerian Troops 

"Troops of 21 Brigade had today intercepted over 3,000 Nigerian refugees crossing from Wambatche, Liman and Kodo Fata villages in Cameroon into Nigeria. The refugees have been moved to Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp. Also, in a clearance operations troops of 25 Task Force Brigade today, at Galmasku, Muli, Chiralia, Maisani,  Talala, Ajigin, Shetimalau, 1 and 2 and Dalomi also rescued 250 civilians held hostages http://goo.gl/cymm66