Soldiers on the umbrella of Operation Lafiya Dole have announced the rescue of 54 women and 95 children held hostage by escaping members of Boko Haram from Sambisa forest in Borno State.
A statement by the Deputy Director Public Relations of the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, said that soldiers smoked them from their hideout in Yerimari Kura.
He said that in the encounter, troops killed three Boko Haram insurgents and captured five, adding that the rescued hostages are currently receiving medical attention at the 21 Brigade Medical Center and will be profiled after the medical screening session.
Colonel Onyema said that the troops also intercepted and neutralised two suicide bombers, who attempted infiltrating Mandanari Community in Konduga, Borno State.
He said that the two suicide bombers strapped with suicide vests were sneaking into the community at about 8.00 pm, when they were sighted by vigilant troops, who challenged them from a safe distance.
According to him, the patrol team engaged them as they refused halting and ran towards the community, detonating their suicide vests.
He said that it was only the suicide bombers that died in the incident, while three persons who sustained minor injuries have received medical attention. [myad]
