Troops destroy Boko Haram terrorists base, liberate 455 held hostage in Borno

TROOPS of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade, have again made another breakthrough by destroying Boko Haram terrorists suspected hideouts and rescued about 455 persons held hostage in some villages in Borno State.

The suspected hideouts were Artano, Saduguma, Duve, Bordo, Kala, Bok, Magan, Misherde, Ahisari, Gilgil, Mika, Hiwa, as well as Kutila and Shirawa settlements in Kala Balge Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, a copy of which was made available to the Tribune Online in Abuja, the troops came under heavy attack from the terrorists at the Kutila village.

According to the statement, “the troops responded and dealt with the Boko Haram terrorists by neutralizing and routing them out of the area. Several others escaped into the thick forest with gunshot wounds. The troops recovered one gun truck, one canter vehicle and one pick up from them.

“The troops also encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Shirawa who withdrew in disarray when they could not withstand the firepower of the troops and abandoned the newly constructed Logistics Base, two freshly prepared suicide bombing vests and maize grinding machine.

“The gallant soldiers proceeded further to clear Bok, Misherde, Mika and Kutila also in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State, where they liberated 455 persons held hostages by the terrorists. The rescued persons after thorough screening have been moved to Rann Internally Displaced Persons camp”, it added.