Borno State Police Command has rescued 13 abducted victims from insurgents. Some Boko Haram commanders, surrendered and renounced membership of the sect.
Spokesman Isuku Victor said in a statement that the commandโs striking unit responded to a distress call of abduction from Biu Area Command, with investigators, undercover operatives and local hunters, which led to the rescue of the victims, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered.
The statement reads: โOn August 19, the Area Commander, Biu, reported a case of abduction of six children (four boys and two girls). The commandโs striking unit (SARS) and a team of investigators were despatched to the area. The deployment and use of undercover operatives led to the arrest of five persons, who confessed and revealed where the children were kept.
โOn September 8, through community policing partnership and networking, the command with local hunters and vigilance group members attacked the hoodlums in a forest near Kumaya village, Buni Yadi, Yobe State.โ
It added: โTwo of the hoodlums died following injuries sustained in the gun battle. Two AK47 rifles used by the hoodlums were recovered.
The six abducted victims were rescued.
Seven other kidnapped persons were rescued, bringing the number of persons rescued to 13. Two members of the search party were injured during exchange of fire. They are responding to treatment.โ
Isuku said the 13 victims were handed over to โBorno State Deputy Governor Mamman Durkwa today (yesterday) at the Government House, Maiduguri.โ
Speaking on the repentant Boko Haram members, he said: โThe counter-terrorism efforts of the military, code-named โOperation Safe Corridorโ, recorded another victory with the unconditional surrender to the police by high profile repentant Boko Haram terrorists.
โOn September 10, about 2100hrs, the intelligence arm of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the command negotiated the surrender of repentant Boko Haram terrorists with their families.
โIbrahim Dala (alias Abu Ali), formerly of Kawar Mela ward, Maiduguri, an amir (commander) of Mamman Nur faction, with Audu Mustapha Bukar (โmโ), 20 years and Laminu Mustapha Modu (โmโ) 25 years, living at Talala insurgents camp at Sambisa forest, surrendered to the command.
โBukar and Modu, from Ngallamari village, claimed to have been held hostage by the sect sometime ago and were conscripted.โ
Isuku gave the names of the others who repented as: Alhaji Ali, โmโ, 25 years, of Alagarno village; Abubakar Mele, โmโ, 30 years, of Yasko village; Modu Umar, โmโ, 20 years, of Bursum village; Modu Maina, โmโ, 15 years, of Bursum village; Ali Kolo, โmโ, 20 years, of Alagarno village; Bintu Abukar, โfโ, 14 years, of Yasko village; Falmata Abukar, โfโ, 15 years, of Yasko village; Hauwa Ali, โfโ, 15 years, of Alagarno village; Husam Ali, โfโ, 14 years of Alagarno village and Mallam Modu, โfโ, 16 years, of Bursum village.
Isuku said five children aged between one and eight were rescued.
He added: โThey have made statements that will assist in the counter-insurgency campaign of the military. They are undergoing preliminary profiling, preparatory to transfer to the military.โ
