Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have rescued 85 persons comprising of mostly women and children held hostage by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The feat was achieved during a decisive clearance operation into the remnants of the terrorists’ strategic hub town of Chukungudu on the southern fringes of the Lake Chad region.
Troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army, led by the General Officer Commanding of the division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, wiped out the terrorists’ camps in the northern parts of Borno State between Friday and Saturday.
The manoeuvring brigade, led by 3 Battalion of 22 Brigade, successfully cleared Geram, Bulankassa and Chukungudu believed to be the Boko Haram terrorists’ strongholds in the area in northeast Nigeria.
A statement by Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, however, said they lost a soldier during the encounter.
“The troops neutralised five Boko Haram terrorist fighters in a fierce encounter that made several of the terrorists running into the Lake Chad waters.
“The troops recovered four rounds of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, one double barrel gun, 349 packets containing various rounds of ammunition, three magazines, a link belt of machine gun ammunition and one AK-47 rifle magazine.
“During the clearance operations, the troops made spectacular discovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory at Geram.
“In the factory, they found several already primed suicide bombers’ vests (while) they also discovered a well-equipped motor vehicles and motorcycles’ workshop (as well as) spare parts warehouse at Chukungudu village,” Colonel Usman said.
The Army spokesman added that they recovered three vehicles and several newly acquired motorcycles.
Colonel Usman said that the IED factory, vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed in line with the Rules of Engagement.
