TROOPS of Operation Lafiya Dole have rescued a total of 149 persons held hostage by Boko Haram insurgents. Those persons comprising 54 women and 95 children, were rescued in an operation carried out on Saturday, by troops to smoke out insurgents in Yerimari Kura community on Sambisa axis.
As disclosed in a statement by Deputy Director, Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the rescued hostages are currently receiving at the 21 Brigade Medical Centre.
The clearance operations in Yerimari Kura also saw troops kill three Boko Haram insurgents and capture five.
In another counter-terrorism operation, that Saturday, troops of Operation Lafia Dole, while on patrol in Konduga have intercepted and neutralised two suicide bombers.
The two suicide bombers strapped with suicide vests had attempted infiltrating Mandanari Community in Konduga, Borno State, before they were engaged by troops, from a safe distance.
The engagement compelled the suicide bombers to detonate their suicide vests, with the suicide bombers, died in the incident, while three persons were injured.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army was regarded as false those reports that it had begun phased withdrawal of troops from internal security operations in some parts of the country.
The Army in a statement by Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, maintained that it remained committed to its internal security operations and will continue to intervene to checkmate all forms of criminality across the country.
The Army, however, noted that it was imperative for governors and Chairmen of Local Government Areas to help reduce incidences of crime, by providing basic social and developmental infrastructures.
In a clearance operation on Saturday, troops of 72 battalion special forces have engaged armed herdsmen militia in a firefight leading to the killing of one herdsman, while another one had gunshot wounds and three others arrested.
In the operation carried out in Gbajimba, Baka, Too many, Iyode and Dogon Yashi in Benue State, one Ak 47 assault rifle was recovered.
Similarly, two other herdsmen engaged in the destruction of farmlands have been arrested at the chembe community.
Earlier that day, troops of the Battalion on patrol at Jatoaka town affected the arrest of 10 armed robbery suspects linked to an armed robbery incident.
Similarly, in Taraba State, troops of 101 Special Battalion conducted clearance operation along road Suntai-Muji-Kungana, where it moved against armed bandits who had barricaded the road.
The bandits fled into the bushes on engagement by own troops, only for a search of the general area to lead to the recovery of a dane gun.
Similarly, the Army said it had mandated aggressive patrols continue to frustrate armed bandits and deny them freedom of action on road Abuja-Kaduna.
In another incident, troops of 707 Special Forces Battalion mobile strike team in operation lafiya dole have prevented the infiltration of troops in defensive position by two female suicide bombers.
A combined team of 707 Special Forces mobile strike team and 222 Battalion pressured the suicide bombers into detonating their suicide vests killing themselves
Also, a Boko Haram terrorist suspect who surrendered to troops in Sambisa forest is currently undergoing interrogation at 26 Task Force Brigade.