Troops rescue 75 victims from Sambisa forest

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 75 civilians from Sambisa Forest in Borno State.  

Speaking to journalists on Monday during the handover of the rescued individuals to the Borno State Government in Maiduguri, Major General W.

Shaibu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division, confirmed the operation.

Represented by the Deputy Theatre Commander, Brigadier General A.L. Akpodu, he revealed that the rescued individuals included seven adult males, 34 women, and 34 children.

The rescue was achieved through a clearance operation conducted by the 21 Special Armoured Brigade and the 199 Special Forces Battalion under Operation Desert Sanity IV in Sambisa Forest.

He stated, “As part of our ongoing clearance efforts, troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade and the 199 Special Forces Battalion under Operation Desert Sanity IV recently conducted successful offensive operations in Sambisa Forest.

“Key terrorist enclaves in Ukuba, Ujimla, Sabil Huda, Garin, Fajula, and Gobara were cleared, leading to the rescue of 75 civilians, including seven adult males, 34 women, and 34 children.”

He added that military forces had destroyed facilities belonging to the insurgents in the forest.

“The operation significantly degraded enemy capabilities by neutralising insurgents and destroying command and logistics bases, makeshift shelters, weapon caches, and materials used for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” he added.

He further noted that the rescued individuals had received medical and psychological support and were now set to be handed over to the Borno State Government.

Receiving the victims on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, commended the troops for their bravery in the fight against insurgency.

“We are taking them to our centre, where we will provide them with livelihood support, counselling services, mental health and psychosocial support, skills training for the women, and educational services, among others, before reintegrating them into society,” she said.