Vehicle abandoned by the fleeing Boko Haram MembersSoldiers on Operation DEEP PUNCH 2, designed to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists inhabiting remote islands in Lake Chad basin lying within Nigerian territory, have rescued some people captured by the insurgents and turned into slavery. They were forced to work on farms under harsh condition by Boko Haram insurgents.
The soldiers, who are of 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, on Operation LAFIYA DOLE and supported by soldiers of the Armed Forces Strike Group, also recovered several weapons, vehicles and other items from fleeing members of Boko Haram.
According to information coming from Deputy Director, Public Relations, of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Timothy Antigha, the insurgents have been sneaking into Magumeri, Kauram and other locations to loot property and attack security personnel and villagers.
The statement said that so far, 20 terrorists have been killed, even as 17 others have been captured and over 100 elderly men, women and children rescued.
It said that preliminary investigation revealed that a large number of the rescued persons were held against their will and forced to work in farms under life threatening conditions and penurious wages.
It said that more investigation and interviews will be conducted before the rescued persons are handed over for further action.
The statement said that the operation, which is on-going has forced the terrorists to abandon their vehicles, arms and ammunition, as well as assorted equipment as the soldiers closed in on them.
It listed items recovered from the fleeing insurgents as one Mercedes Benz Truck, three Toyota Land Cruiser Gun Trucks, five AK-47 Riffles, three Fabrique Nationals (FN) Riffles, two G3 Riffles and one Pump Action Riffle.
Other items include one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, two Bombs, teo Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios and one Night Vision Goggle.
The statement said that also recovered are recovered 55 Rounds of 5.56 X 45mm ammunition, five Bangalore Torpedo, Two 120mm Mortar Bombs, 1000 Rounds of 7.62mm Ball Metal Link Ammunition, 55 Rounds of 7.62mm Ammunition and 108 Rounds of 12.7mm Ammunition with links, as well as two memory cards, two Hydraulic Jacks and a 1.5 Amph Battery.
The statement said that though no soldier was lost in the encounter, but that six of them sustained various injuries and have since been evacuated for prompt medical attention. [myad]
