Troops rescue 88, kill 3 insurgents

Troops on clearance operations in the North-
East have rescued 88 people in Bama Local
Government Area of Borno 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.
Usman 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.
In a related development, Usman said the
United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam Zanna
Karamma had visited Bama IDPs camp.
He said the team registered internally
displaced persons below 17 of age for
distribution of non-food items, adding that
they would be trained on skills acquisition
and construction of a temporary shelter.