The international forces fighting the Boko Haram terrorists have freed 5,000 people held in villages in an operation that killed more than 60 fighters and destroyed the Islamist group’s hideout along the Nigeria-Cameroon border according to the Cameroonian Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
“The hostages freed consisted mostly of women, children and elderly people,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.
He later clarified that “the 5,000 people were saved after a sweep at the border within Cameroonian territory … who were hostages that could not leave the villages,” adding that “more than 60 terrorists were … neutralized.”
In addition, 21 Boko Haram suspects had been arrested in the raid in the Mandara Mountains between Feb. 26 and March 7, which destroyed a fuel depot and recovered weapons, motorcycles, around 50 bicycles, flags and “various propaganda objects.”
Bakary said no Cameroonian soldiers had been killed in the raid, although one had been wounded.
In related development, the troops of 151 Task Force Battalion, 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Operation Lafiya Dole, while on fighting patrol, ambushed the terrorists at Borno state College of Business Studies (BOCCOS) along Bama-Ngurosoye road.
The team neutralized 4 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 1 AK-56 Rifle, 60 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 3 AK-56 Rifle Magazines, 1 Boko Haram terrorists flag, 5 SIM Cards and 5 Bicycles according to a statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman
