By Tayo Joseph, Lagos
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen Rogers Nicholas has said that over 2, 000 people were rescued with the surrender of 200 Boko Haram insurgents during three-day coordinated ground and aerial operations in the Lake Chad Region.
One of the abducted Chibok girls, Solome Pogu on a serial list of 86, was also rescued by troops in Pulk village on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, Borno state.
Nicholas disclosed this on Thursday, while briefing journalists on the four-day military operations in the Lake Chad Region and Sambisa Forest at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
He said during the operations, troops also recovered arms and ammunitions, including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs); and several terrorists were also killed from their Lake Chad Island hideouts.
His words: “The operation is going on there in the Lake Chad Region. As at this morning (Thursday) some of the Islands have been captured from the Boko Haram insurgents. Some of their fighting equipment was also recovered.
“However; over 2,000 people including women and children have been rescued and including some of the Boko Haram suspects, which comprise over 200 of them surrendered to our own troops in that northern fringes of Borno state.
On rescued Chibok girl, he said: “We have also been in Sambisa general area; with operations, and as a result; one of the abducted girls (Solome Pogu) was rescued along with another girl, Jamila Adams (14) who has a baby.
“They are here with us now undergoing medical treatment at our hospital at the Theatre Command Centre, Maiduguri. Thereafter, we wait for the state government for further administration.”
He urged the people to support the troops with credible information on the movement of insurgents across the theatre.
He assured that the army that troops is doing their best to salvage the situation.
“Hopefully, in the next few days, we believe much progress than what we are doing now,” he said.
He added: “Quite a number of weapons such as Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), ready-made Improvised Explosive Devices (IFDs), AK-47 rifles, Rocket Launchers among others were recovered from the terrorists. It would interest you to note that, there was no casualty
from the side of our own troops.”
