Troops
on clearance operations in the North-East have rescued 88 people in
Bama Local Government Area of Borno State and killed three during an
encounter.
A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public
Relations, in Abuja on Tuesday, said 28 people of those rescued, claimed
they escaped from Bula Musa village.
The statement said the 28 people comprised two men, nine women and 17
children, adding that the troops killed three terrorists during
separate encounter.
“They have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and
possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies”,
Usman said.
He said that another 23, comprising a man, five women and 17 children
were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) camp in Bama.
Usman said this was after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.
“In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two
men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is
about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.
“They were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF who, later
handed them over to the Dikwa IDPs camp management for further
registration and rehabilitation”, Usman said.
He said those deployed at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with
Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named
Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.
“The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on
preliminary investigation confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters,
and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village,
Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.
“They, terrorists, attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran
out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over
to the Joint Investigation centre for further interrogation”, he said.
The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation
and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages.
He said following information that terrorists were extorting
residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and
killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds.
Usman said the troops recovered one AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the insurgents.