The Nigerian Army have killed five Boko Haram terrorists and rescued 180 hostages during a six-hour operation in five communities of Borno State.
The freed communities include Menari, Bulamari, Baale, Maafa, Zangebe and Kaltaram in Mafa Local Council of the state.
Col. Sani Usman, acting director, Army Public Relations, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, said the successful clearance of the last remnants of the insurgents in the council was immensely aided by some civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Mafa-Dikwa axis.
Usman said the captives were rescued in Giltimari and Baale villages.
In another development, the Nigerian military authorities said it had taken for forensic analysis a video purportedly released by the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, denying his dead claims and asking his fighters to embrace peace.
He was reportedly seen in the seven-minute video claiming that he was fulfilled, having done his part.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian military said he had been killed in one of the numerous bombings over seven months ago.
However, the Defence Headquarters has urged Nigerians to disregard the supposed olive branch, saying it’s a ploy to take the citizens off guard.
A late release yesterday by the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, urged the troops to continue the clearance of the remnants of the insurgents, adding that “the said video clips should, therefore, be discountenanced as it could be another ploy or antics of the terrorists to keep our innocent citizen off their current security alertness to maximise casualties if attacked.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are now determined more than ever before to end this ugly trend,” he added.
