The Nigerian Army has rescued no fewer than 386 people from Boko Haram insurgents after a 10-day clearing operation in Sambisa forest, Borno State.
According to the acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brig. Gen. AGL Haruna some of the abductees which consist mostly of women and children, had been in Boko Haram’s captivity for as long as 10 years before help finally came.
Haruna, while speaking to journalists, said the exercise tagged “Operation Desert Sanity 111” was to rid the Sambisa forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists.
He said, “Our effort is to ensure that we clear the remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa forest and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender.
“With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender as they have started.
“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386 and I am sure the number will increase by today.”
Haruna praised the troops for their performance during the operation urging them to sustain the tempo.
The successful operation was attributed to the joint effort of troops from 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade, and 199 Special Forces.