Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army deployed at Bitta and Pridang in Borno State have carried out a successful raid on suspected Boko Haram camps at Bulajilin and Manawashe villages along Bita and Damboa road at the fringes of the sect’s Sambisa Forest stronghold.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said that “the troops were able to kill 30 Boko Haram terrorists” during the operation which tookplace early Tuesday. “The unit also rescued 338 persons that were held captive by the terrorists in the enclaves. The rescued persons which comprised of male 8, female 138 and children 192, have since been evacuated to Mubi. Troops also recovered arms and ammunitions during the raid operation which include 1 General Purpose Machine Gun and 2 Dane Guns, 150 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 6 boxes of 7.62mm (NATO) and 3 cutlasses,” he said in a statement issued in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State in the troubled North-East region.

In a related development, troops based on a tip off, ambushed and killed 4 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on a suicide bombing mission to Gubula, Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Col. Usman said.

“Apart from 2 AK-47 rifles recovered, the troops also recovered some Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs), mortar bombs and cash sum of N153,385k was retrieved,” he said, adding: “It is worthy to note that the raid operation on the Boko Haram Terrorists enclave coincided with the Chief of Army Staff’s operational visit to the Brigade Headquarters in Mubi.

“The successful clearance operations and ambushing of the terrorists has further degraded them and saved the lives of so many innocent victims of their suicide bombings.

“Having appealed and given the terrorists final warning, we would like to state that from now on troops within bounds of respect for human rights and rules of engagement, we shall continue to decisively deal with Boko Haram terrorists until they are defeated.

“Therefore, we are appealing for continued vigilance, security consciousness and above all cooperation with the military and security agencies to enable us successfully defeat the terrorists.”

•Photo shows Nigerian troops combing a north-eastern community for Boko Haram terrorists.

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