Troops have rescued 275 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists during a mop-up operation in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
The troops of 152 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with troops of Sector 1 of Multinational Joint Task Force made the feat during a clearance operation in suspected hideouts of the dreaded terrorists.
A statement by the Acting Director of the Nigerian Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said that one of the rescued persons gave birth to a baby boy shortly after their liberation. He said that both mother and child were doing fine.
According to the statement, the soldiers cleared terrorists in Madawaya, Jere, Kardile, Koujili, Ngenere and Maksamari, as well as Douse, Bembem, Zombulum and Taraji villages while they recovered several vehicles and motorcycles.
In addition, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, four fully loaded magazines with 7.62mm ammunition, two power generating sets, welding machines, assorted batteries and solar panels.
The gallant soldiers also recovered drums of beans and other grains as well as bandolier while they discovered and destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) – making factory at Bula Umara.
The troops have continued with their clearance operations to other suspected hideouts of the Boko Haram sects in their areas of operations.