Troops kill five insurgents, rescue seven victims in Gwoza

The troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have again killed five suspected insurgents and rescued seven kidnapped victims at Hamdaga Makaranta town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The troops of 192 Battalion supported by the Air Task Force, raided the location and overwhelmed the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements during the operation.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Monday, said many injured terrorists fled with gunshots, noting that the troops also cleared nine identified BHT/ISWAP structures and farmlands in the area.

The statement titled, ‘Troops neutralize Boko Haram/ISWAP element, rescue kidnapped victims in Gwoza LGA, Borno State,’ read in part, “The troops successfully rescued seven kidnapped victims comprising two females and five children. Currently, the gallant troops have dominated the area with aggressive patrols.”

According to the statement, in continuation of the operations against armed banditry and cattle rustling in the North-Central zone, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke arrested four bandits and recovered arms and ammunition during two raids at identified bandits’ camps.

In one of the operations conducted on Sunday, Enenche explained that the soldiers deployed at Guma in Benue State and Keana in Nasarawa State conducted a dawn raid at identified bandits’ camp at Guma forest along the Benue-Nasarawa border following actionable intelligence reports on the camp.

He said the troops stormed the location and engaged the bandits in a firefight, overwhelming them with superior fire and in the process, killed one bandit while others fled with gunshot wounds into the forest.

They also recovered one AK47 rifle, one rifle magazine, one locally-made pistol and three mobile phones at the scene while the camp was subsequently destroyed.

Similarly, troops of Sector 1 deployed at Gagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State stormed the bandits’ hideout at Tse Agi and apprehended four suspects at the scene while one AK 47 rifle, two rifle magazines, and 46 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were recovered.

“The hideout was subsequently destroyed while the suspects are currently being profiled after which they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further action,” the Defence Headquarters stated.