YOBE: Army rescues 20 persons abducted by Boko Haram

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 20 persons kidnapped on Thursday by insurgents during an attack on Babban Gida, the administrative headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.

A statement on Saturday by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, explained that the terrorists had sneaked into the peaceful community on board nine gun trucks to unleash terror on the innocent citizens.

It added that the criminals were simultaneously attempting to overrun the troops’ deployment in the community. In the process, the criminal insurgents looted some properties and abducted some citizens with “obvious intent to conscript them into their criminal fold.

“In a bold and resilient response that thwarted the attempted infiltration by the criminal insurgents, the gallant troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and elements of Yobe State Vigilantes supported by Air Task Force Operation LAFIYA DOLE immediately engaged the criminal insurgents.

“After a fierce firefight that lasted about one hour, the insurgents withdrew in disarray. During the exploitation that ensued, the troops put up a hot pursuit of the marauding criminals and in the process discovered the shattered remains of one of them along their withdrawal route while one Rocket Propelled Gun seven (RPG 7) bomb was also captured from the criminals. The troops later exerted their dominance within the community and beyond. Normalcy has since been restored to the community.”

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Iliyasu added. “It is gratifying to note that all 20 abductees of the criminal insurgents including a team of medical personnel comprising one Musa Bulama (a medical doctor), Gana Yelwa (a Nurse) and Malam Bala Musa (Yobe State Primary Healthcare Ambulance driver) have been successfully rescued by the troops.

“Additionally, a Toyota SUV Ambulance belonging to the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board earlier snatched by the insurgents was equally recovered by the gallant troops.

“Others equally rescued are Adamu Madugu, Tukur Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Sulaiman and 14 males between the ages of 13-16 years.”

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