Troops of 251 Task Force Battalion of Operation Fire Ball (OPFB), have
yesterday thwarted the payments of N2 million ransom to Boko Haram
terrorists in Borno state.
The troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted terrorists and
relations of kidnapped persons in the Maiduguri/Molai axis to thwart
ransom payments to Boko Haram.
In a statement Friday in Maiduguri, the Acting Director Defense Media
Operations, Brig-Gen. Benard Onyeuko disclosed that; “In a swift
reaction the gallant troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to
abort the collections the collection of ransom payments of N2
million.”
He said during encounter with armed kidnappers, they also abandoned
their captives on which the ransom was to be paid as instructed in the
Maiduguri/Molai axis.
On casualties of ransom payments, he said: “A Boko Haram/ISWAP
terrorist was neutralized,” noting that while others escaped with
gunshot wounds towards Sambisa Forests, along Maiduguri/Damboa road.
He added that after thwart of ransom payments, an AK-47 Rifle and a
motorcycle were recovered along with N2 million.
According to him, the captives; including two women and three children
were safely rescued by troops.
Similarly, on November 17, 2020, troops of 151 Battalion engaged Boko
Haram terrorists at Zaye Ngusa village and killed an insurgent, with
others in disarray to sustain gunshot wounds.
He added that troops of 26 Task Force Brigade also conducted ambush
operations in the Pulka/Sabongari/Kirawa axis of Borno state.
“On sighting the terrorists, the troops engaged the criminals with gun
fire forcing them to flee;” he said, noting that they also abandoned
their consignments.
He said other items recovered in the operations, include eight
bicycles, bags of grains, assorted packets of drugs and food items.
He urged the troops not to rest on their oars, but build on the
successes recorded in the front lines of Sambisa Forest.
He also assured residents of Northeast of military’s determination to
finally rout remnants of terrorists from their enclaves.
