Arrests over 40 including man rearing livestock for insurgents
From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
No fewer than 54 Boko Haram members have been killed in an on-going military onslaught on Sambisa camp, in Borno State, in a week.
Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor said at a press conference, in Maiduguri, yesterday, that, over 40 other insurgents including a man rearing livestock for Boko Haram, were arrested by troops during the assault.
“At Buni Gari, in Yobe state, on November 29, 14 Boko Haram escapees from Sambisa, with their families were arrested by our troops.
“One of them is involved in rearing livestocks for the terrorists.
“We also arrested seven confirmed Boko Haram disguising as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with 50 women and children on Sunday, December 4,” Irabor said, butressing his claims with photographs and graphic details.
The commander said the operation to fish out Boko Haram from Sambisa is recording successes as arm cache and some operational vehicles of the insurgents have been seized. He, however, said the military equally recorded some casulties in the operations, adding two soldiers and two Civilian JTF were killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the terrorists while nine others were wounded at Bita, in Gwoza Local Government and Sambisa.
He said a total 810 hostages including women and childrenand maintained the end is in sight for Boko Haram even as he urged those willing to surender to do so in time, promising they will be treated in accordance with international best practise.