May 20, (THEWILL) – Military troops from 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade and 199 Special Forces, have rescued about 386 abducted persons, mostly women and children, from Sambisa Forest in Konduga local government area of Borno state.
Acting GOC, 7 Division, AGL Haruna, disclosed this to newsmen Sunday, at the outskirts of Sambisa forest after welcoming the troops that conducted the 10-day operation.
He said the exercise tagged: “Operation Desert Sanity 111”, was to clear Sambisa Forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists, as well as provide some of them eager to surrender, as observed, the opportunity to do so.
“Our effort is to ensure that we clear remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender.
“Some of those rescued from Sambisa Forest, who spoke, said they were in captivity for 10 years.
“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.
“I want to commend you for your exceptional performance and professionalism exhibited during the operation and I urged you to sustain the tempo.
“The Chief of Army Staff is highly pleased with your performance. You have done your best. You have sacrificed yourselves to ensure that peace and normalcy return to the North-East. This is a wonderful outing and we are very happy.
“We have to stop whatever we are doing and come here to let you know that we are with you always. To know what you people are doing so that we can have a feeling of what you people are going through”, he added.
Specifically, the GOC commended the troops for successfully clearing insurgents’ enclaves at Lawanti, Ukuba, Farisu, Sabil Huda, Njimia, Garin Gulukos, Garin Falluja, Shababul Ummah, Garin Pannel bitter and Lagara Anguwan Gwai Gwai, all located within the Sambisa forest.
The army chief noted with delight that troops of the Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, especially the Special Forces Troops, 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama the Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) and the Hybrid Forces, did exceptionally well.
Haruna commended Lagbaja for his support which, he said, translated to the successes recorded by the troops in the frontlines.
He also lauded the Theatre Commander, North-East Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, for his strategic guidance and supervision.
