Scores killed as MNJTF troops raid terrorists enclaves, rescue hostages

By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –

MNJTF troops at Forward Operations Base Arege in conjunction with the Air Task Force (ATF) have raided Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists enclaves in the vicinity of Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Rago, where about twenty terrorists were neutralized.

The Chief of Military Public Information, Colonel Muhammad Dole, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Col. Dole explained that the terrorists on sighting the advancing troops fled and abandoned their check point, pulled off their uniforms and left their rifles and other equipment behind.

“Tunbun Rago town was found deserted with Boko haram corpses and a shallow grave containing Boko haram corpses discovered, as the criminals beat a hasty retreat”. He said.

Relatedly, the MNJTF Nigerien troops of Sector 4 while on patrol in the general area of Ngagam – Kabalewa and N’guigmi engaged a group of fleeing terrorists, neutralised five BHT/ISWAP insurgents, destroyed two Gun trucks and large stock of arms and ammunitions were recovered.

“Sadly, one soldier paid supreme sacrifice and few others were wounded in action, currently receiving treatment at a military hospital.

In another encounter with Boko Haram Terrorists/ISWAP insurgents in the course of further clearance operations by MNJTF troops of Sector 1 (Cameroon) in the vicinity of Toumbuma, Kerenua, and Chikingudu neutralized 2 Boko haram criminals and maintained dominance in the area.

At the end of the earlier battle engagement around Tunbun Fulani and Tunbun Rago, six (6) traumatized female BHTs hostages managed to escape and were found by own troops who then assisted them and brought them to own troop’s location.

They were professionally handled and given medical care in the bush. The rescued women have been moved to Maiduguri for further processing and handover to the civil authorities before they rejoin their families.

Preliminary investigation according to MNJTF spokesman, revealed that the escapees who hailed from Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe states were kidnapped at different places and times by the evil and criminally minded BHTs/ISWAP ranging from October 2020 to April 2021.