Troops of the joint task force north-east Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have reportedly freed 86 kidnapped persons and prevented a terrorist ambush during a series of coordinated missions in Borno state.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sani Uba, media information officer for OPHK, said personnel from the 135 special forces battalion under Sector 2 responded to distress reports of abductions occurring along the Buratai–Kamuya road.
During the operation, troops encountered Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters at Dutse Kura on Sunday and exchanged fire with them before advancing in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists toward Mangari.
Uba said a subsequent engagement resulted in the destruction of 11 makeshift terrorist structures and the rescue of eight victims, including men, women, and children.
He added that soldiers recovered an AK-47 rifle, five magazines containing 73 rounds of ammunition, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles.
The terrorists’ camp, he noted, was destroyed during the clearance operations.
Uba further disclosed that troops stationed in Mangada intercepted 29 individuals suspected of being logistics suppliers for terrorists as they were heading toward the Chilaria axis of Borno.
He said the suspects were found with two pickup vans and a tricycle loaded with about 1,000 litres of petrol, engine oil, new gun truck tyres, medical supplies, and substantial quantities of food.