More hostages have been freed from Boko Haram captivity in the Sambisa Forest, the military said yesterday. No fewer than 160 women and children were freed after the 293 rescued earlier on. The “hostages were held in atrocious condition”, Defence Spokesman Major-Gen. Chris Olukolade said.
The mission involved heavy fighting between the military and Boko Haram across nine of their camps, which, according to reports, destroyed part of the terrorist organisation’s hub and left several of its fighters dead. “They (freed hostages) have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing,” Colonel Sani Usman, the Army spokesman, in a statement.
One woman died and eight others were injured in cross fire as troops stormed nine Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest. A soldier also died. Four others were injured during the operation in which no fewer than nine insurgent camps local within the forest were destroyed. Col. Usman said the operation, which was carried out by troops of the 7 Division, succeeded in rescuing more women and children from the insurgents.
According to him, the troops also killed several Boko Haram field commanders and foot soldiers and destroyed two Armoured Personnel Carriers, two Buffalo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles. Also recovered were one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade and several AK-47 rifles. “Please recall that we promised to keep you abreast of troops’ progress in respect of Nigerian military’s ongoing operations to rid the country of terrorists and their enclaves. “In line with that, I wish to inform you that today’s evening, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army also cleared several terrorists strong points and training camps within Sambisa forest, Borno State, Nigeria.
“Sadly, one woman died and eight others sustained gun shot wounds. So far, the troops have destroyed nine terrorist camps in the forest. This is in addition to the four destroyed yesterday. “The troops have also rescued additional women and children. They have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing. During the encounter, unfortunately we lost a soldier, while four others were wounded in action.”
He named Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai, Jigide, Kotorima, Lagara Bello and Lagara Fulani among the insurgents’ camps destroyed by the troops. “I am glad to say that troops’ morale is very high as they are poised to accomplish the task of destroying all terrorists’ camps and rescuing all those held hostage by the terrorists,” the spokesman added. “Whoever they may be, the important thing is that Nigerians held captive under very severe and inhuman conditions have been freed by our gallant troops,” Gen. Olukolade said.
He told reporters in Abuja that the army would “comprehensively” clean out the forest, adding: ”There is great hope for the recovery of more hostages of the terrorists.” The rescues raised hopes for the liberation of the 219 girls snatched from their school in the Borno State town of Chibok on April 14, last year, which caused a global outrage.
The military released photographs of some of the rescued women and children in an undisclosed location, huddled on the ground and watched over by soldiers. A child in a photograph appears to be in a state of malnutrition. Gen. Olukolade said Air Force jets had been bombarding the forest, which he described as Boko Haram’s “last bastion” in the Northeast after being pushed out of captured towns.
He said in the last few days, more than 13 camps had been captured ”including the notorious Tokumbere camp. Other camps overrun and destroyed by troops include Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai, Jigide, Kotorima, Lagura Bello, Lagina Fulani, among others. “Several field commanders and foot soldiers of the terrorist group have lost their lives, some armoured personnel carriers, Bufallo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles were destroyed by troops. Also recovered from the fleeing terrorists are a number of Anti-Aircraft guns, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and several AK 47 rifles. Unfortunately though, we lost one soldier in the course of the operation while 10 others have so far been wounded.
Equipment such as armored personnel carriers, pick-up trucks and weapons were seized. “The true identity of some of the rescued women and girls are yet to be ascertained,” said Gen. Olukolade. “At the moment, what is uppermost and of priority is their movement to a conducive place where they are now undergoing thorough profiling to verify their true identity, where they come from, how they found themselves in the forest etc. “Additional numbers of persons are still being recovered from the forest. Until such comprehensive profiling is done, nobody can confirm whether they are among the Chibok girls or not.”
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to liberate all Nigerian territories held by the Boko Harm sect before the May 29 hand over of power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the ongoing military operations in the Northeast has already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.
A statement from the office of his spokesman, Reuben Abati, last night in Abuja, quoted the President as saying, “We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present; that is, in the Sambisa Forest.”
