TheCable

The Nigeria army says it has rescued 801 people held hostage by the Boko Haram over the past two weeks.

Lucky Irabor, theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole,made the announcement on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Maiduguri on the counter-terrorism operations in the northeast.

He said that the persons were rescued between November 23 and date.

“A total of 801 persons were rescued from the terrorists’ camps from November 23 to date,” he said.

Irabor said that the military had also arrested a number of terrorists fleeing their Sambisa forest hideout due to the ongoing operation.

“Likewise, on December 4 at about 1345hrs, our troops in conjunction with local vigilante intercepted five men, 29 women and children heading towards Goniri from Kafa,” he said.

“The men were screened by the local vigilante and two of them were confirmed to be terrorists. They have since been taken into custody and are undergoing interrogation.

“The military also apprehended suspected cattle rustlers during its operations. On November 28, four persons and a teenager were arrested by our troops deployed at Bulabulim Ngarnam with 4 cows. The arrested persons have been handed over to the Nigeria Police.”

Irabor said that the military also recovered arms from suspected kidnappers in Bauchi state.

“On December 2, our troops while on patrol at the general area of Gamji and Kafin Lemu villages in Ningi LGA of Bauchi state encountered some suspected kidnappers who engaged them in gun battle,” he said.

He added that they were killed in the gun battle that ensued and the troops recovered several arms and ammunition, including five Dane guns, a locally made pistol, some cartridges and charms.