By Joy Onu
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralised two terrorists, rescued three kidnapped civilians and recovered arms, ammunition and explosive devices in separate operations in Adamawa State.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Captain Mohammed Goni, the successes were recorded by troops of Sector 4 during separate operations on November 8 and 9.
Goni said soldiers deployed at Zangula Kilba Junction in Gombi Local Government Area repelled an attack by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on November 8, neutralising two attackers and forcing others to flee.
The recovered weapons and ammunition comprised two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 115 rounds of ammunition, three belts of empty ammunition links and two cases of locally fabricated explosive devices.
Other items found at the scene included a pair of desert boots, a camelback backpack, an Android phone, a wristwatch and ₦15,000. Goni said operations were ongoing to track the fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.
In a separate operation on November 9, soldiers in Mubi rescued three civilians abducted by suspected kidnappers around Dutse-Uku in Mubi South Local Government Area.
The intervention followed a distress call from farmers reporting the abduction of Mrs Happiness Dama Dauda while working on her farm. Her motorcycle was also reportedly taken.
Working with local hunters, the soldiers mobilised to the area and mounted pressure on the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon the woman and flee.
A subsequent pursuit led to the rescue of two other locals suspected to have been abducted earlier, bringing the total number of rescued victims to three.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of a motorcycle, a tricycle conveying 15 bags of beans and a Hi-Jet pickup carrying 13 bags of groundnuts belonging to other farmers who narrowly escaped abduction. The respective village heads identified the recovered items, which were handed over to their rightful owners.
Goni said patrols and surveillance had been sustained across the area to prevent further attacks, restrict the activities of criminal elements and reassure residents of their safety.
He said the operations reflected the Nigerian Army’s resolve to combat terrorism, dismantle terrorist capabilities and protect civilians from violence and abduction.
He also stressed the importance of timely intelligence sharing and cooperation between security forces and local communities in tackling security threats.
Operation HADIN KAI, he added, would maintain operational pressure on terrorists and their collaborators to prevent them from threatening the peace, security and livelihoods of residents across the North-East.
