Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralised 49 members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Bama-Mandara-Damasak axis of Borno State.
The counteractions were made in the various joint patrols and ambushes against the terrorists in the last six weeks of counter-insurgency operations in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
Reviewing the joint military operations, at the weekend, in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed: “Our ultimate desire in the joint counter-insurgency operations is to restore peace in the North East region by 2022.”
He noted that with the commencement of the dry season, there are challenges to be overcome to end the 13-year war that has claimed many lives and property.
According to him, the difficult terrains within the insurgents’ hideouts and the dry season fueled terrorism in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
He added that in the last six weeks of military operations, troops identified and detonated 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the forest, Lake Chad region and Mandara Mountains.
“We, however, lost nine soldiers, while 20 others got injured in the six-week counter-terrorism operations,” he said.
He added that two Chibok girls were rescued along with two babies. He further disclosed that Rejoice Sarki and Yana Pogu were rescued this month by the troops in the forest and mountains.
“There are 11 Chibok girls rescued in the 2022 joint operations,” he said, lamenting that 96 abducted school girls are still in captivity with the terrorists. Other Army operations conducted during the period under review led to the rescue of 99 women and children.