Olumide Lawal
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday disclosed that the troops has again rescued 1,800 women and children from the Boko Haram terrorists captivity in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
The theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. – Gen. Lucky Irabor, while addressing a news conference in Maiduguri on Wednesday, said that troops also arrested about 504 Boko Haram terrorists while 19 of them willingly surrendered.
He stated that the Army had arrested about 37 foreigners who were currently undergoing interrogations to ascertain whether they were terrorists or not, adding
Irabor also informed that troops arrested about seven kidnappers, adding that they are currently undergoing interrogation.
“Our troops have continued to make significant progress in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. I gladly say that our troops have successfully mop up all the areas in Sambisa Forest including gate one.
“I am not going to tell you what we are doing there. But I can assure you that we are recording remarkable successes.’’ He said.
Irabor called on general public, especially female students of tertiary institutions to be wary of new recruitment website, adding that the Boko Haram insurgency is an evil that is determined to destroy the society.
He added that the Army has started construction of roads network from Alagarno to Sambisa to ease troops operations in mopping up Boko Haram insurgents in the forest.
“We have embarked on roads construction within the Sambiza forest to open up the area and also ease our operations in within the theatre”.
“Construction of the roads will ease fighting troops in their effort to mop up the Boko Haram insurgency from their hideout.’’ Irabor said.
He called on individuals and cooperate organization to support the military, as everything could not be left to government.
Such support, according to him was essential in reviving economic development of the North-east.
“I also urge the general public to continue to support the military in the north-east through the provision of useful information and not to fellow the ways of some media outfit that were bent to bring down the military.’’ He said.
