The Nigerian Army says its soldiers have rescued 63 Boko Haram hostages and killed five militants during a raid on a “terrorist camp” established in the north east of the country.
A special forces unit carried out the operation in which they cleared Boko Haram hideouts at the villages of Lawin Meleri, Matiri Bulaka and Aljeri, according to an army statement.
Weapons and ammunition, including a long-barreled dane gun, a light machine gun bipod stand, and an IED were also recovered.
Soldiers also destroyed Boko Haram camps in the Alagarno forest in Borno State, in a separate operation, according to the military.
“Seven Division Nigerian Army, demystified Boko Haram terrorists’ spiritual power base at the Alagarno forest, Borno State,” the Nigerian Army statement read.
The troops destroyed terrorist camps at Mosa, Ariwuzumari and Kagalmari, as well as Missene, Joba, Yajiwa and Sansan after they received a tip-off.
“During the operations, the troops were able to clear all the camps, killing quite a number of terrorists and recovered Boko Haram terrorist flags hoisted on some premises, destroyed their logistics base and recovered 31 motorcycles, assorted foodstuffs, a donkey and a pick-up van, AK-45 rifle with registration number 17714 and a Dane gun,” the military statement said.
The Boko Haram terrorist group has killed around 20,000 people and displaced 2.5 million since launching an insurgency in 2009 which aims to establish Islamist rule.
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