Troops Rescue Three Chibok Girls, Other Victims

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Abuja has disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, operating at the fringes of various villages and communities in Borno state have rescued three Chibok girls, their children and 19 other kidnapped victims.

The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami,disclosed this  on Thursday,while speaking on the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other Security agencies from the various operational theatres across the six geopolitical zones of the country ,which covers the period from 25th August – 8th September, 2022.

He added that the troops carried out operations in villages and communities in Kukawa, Dikwa, Bama, Kaga, Monguno, Guzamala, Konduga, Gwoza and Mafa Local Government Areas, all in Borno State as well as Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

He said in the course of the operations,  troops rescued three abducted Chibok girls namely Jinkai Yama, Falmata Lawal and Asabe Ali who were on serial 3, 20 and 24 of the abducted Chibok girls list.

He disclosed  that the girls, now mothers were rescued at different locations with their children and 19 other abductees.

He added:”Also, a suspected foreign logistic supplier and arms dealer to the Boko Haram Terrorists and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) named, Mallam Abatcha Bukar was equally arrested with assorted injections, two Automated Teller Machine Cards and the sum of N294,520.00.”

He said troops of Operation Hadin Kai during the operations also neutralized 52 suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and arrested 14 terrorists.

He also said:”Troops recovered two unexploded grenade, 12 AK47 rifles, three FN rifles, five AK47 magazine, one automatic grenade launcher, one hand grenade, one AP mine, 86 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one motorcycle, 16 bows and arrows, seven bicycles and 10 mobile phones.”

In a related development, the land and air component of Operation Hadin Kai on the 3rd September 2022, in a coordinated attack on identified terrorist enclaves at Gabchari in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State dealt a deadly blow on the terrorists, as their enclaves were bombarded.

The air strike was said to have resulted in the neutralization of a large number of the insurgents, while the land component mopped up the fleeing terrorists.

“Feedback from various sources, revealed that over 200 terrorists were neutralized, including five high profiled Commanders. Equally, a total of 556 suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families, comprised of 115 Adult males, 189 females and 252 children, surrendered to own troops at different locations.All arrested suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authority while the surrendered terrorists and their families are being profiled for further action.”

The Headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Jos in its non-kinetic approach to winning the heart and mind of the local populace and promote peaceful coexistence and ensuring that lasting peace is achieved partnered with Beautiful Gate Handicaps People Centre Jos and distributed 220 tricycles’ and bags of rice to the handicaps within Plateau and Bauchi states.

The event was said to be part of the operation’s civil military activities aimed at promoting peace and bringing succor to the physically challenged.

“It was also to upgrade their living conditions and to support, vulnerable members of the society and increase their participation to peace building in the joint operation areas.”

Similarly, the tactical surveillance troops arrested a Boko Haram informant named Mamuda Usman (aka Bado) in Asokoro, the Federal Capital Territory.

It was revealed that the suspect ran errands for a suspected high profiled Boko Haram Terrorist Commander in Kaduna, who is on the tracking list of security agencies.

“The arrested suspect is in custody for further action. On the same day, troops on clearance operations responded to distress call on a kidnapping incidents at Changal village in Mangu Local Government Area and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Consequently, troops trailed and rescued the kidnapped victims from their abductors while the kidnappers fled on sighting the troops.

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke,who were on patrol also responded swiftly to two separate kidnapping incidents at ChaChangi village in Takun Local Government Area and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Consequently, troops embarked on rescue operation and exchanged fire with the bandit and arrested Mr. Alex Apera, aged 26 years and Mr. Umaru Halilu aged, 34 years.

“All arrest and rescued victims were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.”

Troops of Operation Hadin Daji also continued to intensify offensive action against terrorist activities in the North West zone of the Country.

They were said to have carried out several operations, including rescue operation as well as clearance operations, ambushes, raids and patrols. These operations led to the arrest and neutralization of terrorist and other criminal elements.

Notably, “On 3rd September 2022, troops responded to distressed call on terrorists activities at Kurar Mota in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during the encounter troop neutralized three of the terrorists while others fled with gun wound.

“One of the neutralized terrorists was identified as Dan Nijar Bala, a notorious terrorists who has been on the wanted list of troops and noted for series of kidnapping incidents and attacks in the general area.In a related development, the air component of Operation Hadin Daji have continued to sustain and maintain their onslaught on terrorists in their hideout, enclaves and camps at different locations in the North West. Notably, on 30th August, 2022 an air interdictions operation was carried out at Alhaji Isiaka village, Kuduru in Igabi Local Government Area and Udawa along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road in kaduna State.

“Consequently, air bombardment was carried out at those locations and feedback of the airstrikes from the two locations revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with several others injured.”

Also, troops were said to have arrested a suspected Boko Haram Terrorist arm dealers named Hamza Dogo in Zamfara.

Item recovered from the suspect include; two AK47 rifles, eight magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62mm and one Pontiac vehicle.

Within the week under review, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 17 terrorists, arrested 38 suspected terrorists, rescued 61 civilians, recovered 10 AK47 rifles, three locally made guns, four fabricated revolver rifles, 253 rounds of 7.62mm special, 68 motorcycles, 15 mobile phones, three woodland camouflages, one police uniform, two pairs of combat boots, 29 rustled cattle and two vehicles.

“All recovered items, apprehended suspects and rescued civilians has been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.”

Gen. Danmadami stated that, “On 29th August, 2022, troops on fighting patrol came in contact with suspected Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network criminal at Idemiri in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, and during the encounter, two of the criminal were neutralized while others fled with gun shot wounds.

In another development, the Imo State Police raided the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network criminal camp at Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state.

“The hoodlum’s engaged the Police in a gun duel but were overpowered. During the operation five Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network criminals were neutralized while three pump action guns, two locally made double barrels guns, four locally made pistols, four Improvised Explosive Devices, and other weapons and assorted ammunition as well as military and police uniforms, large quantities of assorted hard drugs among others were recovered from the suspected criminals.All recovered items were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.”

This is as troops of Operation Awatse in the conduct of Operation Swift Response in the South West zone of the Country have sustained their operation to curb illegal activities of smugglers of contrabands goods in the border area.

Gen. Danmadami said, on the 26th August, 2022, troops of 81 Division at a checkpoint along Ilaro-Benin Republic border area, foiled an attempt to smuggled 792 parcels of illicit drugs suspected to be cannabis sativa into the country.

The parcels of the Indian hemp were concealed in a truck coming from outside the Country. It was estimated that the suspected illicit drugs were worth about N10,000,000.00 only.

Similarly, the joint border patrol troops conducted anti smuggling operations at Sawa Sawa village along Owode-Apa bush path in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, similar, operation was carried out at Oke-Agbede Waterside in Imeko Afon Local Government Area, Oyan Waterside, Yewa South, Yewa North and Ado-Odo and Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

“Consequently, a total of 449, 30 litres jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit, 529, 50kg bags of foreign rice and 1 vehicle were recovered. All recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Custom Services Abeokuta, Ogun State.”