Nigerian army frees 125 hostages and neutralises eight terrorists
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard and Daily Post
The Nigerian army says it freed 125 kidnapped people, neutralised eight terrorists and arrested 10 suspects during operations from 6 to 12 November. The forces notably rescued 119 travellers abducted in Borno State, according to Vanguard. Twelve terrorist fighters and members of their families also surrendered to the authorities.
The operations covered Nigeria’s north-east, north-west, north-central and south-east, with actions against terrorist groups, bandits and kidnappers. In Borno State, soldiers pursued kidnappers along the Mangari-Dora road before they abandoned their captives. Operations on the Monguno-Maiduguri and Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Buni Gari routes also led to rescues and the neutralisation of fighters.
In Adamawa State, three residents were rescued in Dutse-Uku on 9 November and their vehicles and agricultural products were recovered. The forces also seized 15 jerrycans of petrol abandoned by suspects as part of an operation against smuggling. In the north-west, two kidnapped people were found in Zamfara on 7 November, followed by the rescue of three more travellers on 11 November along the Kombo-Gurusu road, while their driver was found dead.
In Katsina, a fighter was neutralised on 10 November and an AK-47, five magazines, 90 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and three phones were recovered. In Sokoto, a father and son suspected of belonging to a terrorist group were arrested with an AK-47. In Bauchi State, camps were destroyed in Dajin Madam, with ammunition, motorcycles, radios, phones and camouflage uniforms seized.
