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 command’s 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: “On August 19, the Area Commander, Biu, reported a case of abduction of six children (four boys and two girls). The command’s 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.
“On 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.”
It added: “Two 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.”
Isuku said the 13 victims were handed over to “Borno State Deputy Governor Mamman Durkwa today (yesterday) at the Government House, Maiduguri.”
Speaking on the repentant Boko Haram members, he said: “The counter-terrorism efforts of the military, code-named ‘Operation Safe Corridor’, recorded another victory with the unconditional surrender to the police by high profile repentant Boko Haram terrorists.
“On 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.
“Ibrahim Dala (alias Abu Ali), formerly of Kawar Mela ward, Maiduguri, an amir (commander) of Mamman Nur faction, with Audu Mustapha Bukar (‘m’), 20 years and Laminu Mustapha Modu (‘m’) 25 years, living at Talala insurgents camp at Sambisa forest, surrendered to the command.
“Bukar and Modu, from Ngallamari village, claimed to have been held hostage by the sect sometime ago and were conscripted.”
Isuku gave the names of the others who repented as: Alhaji Ali, ‘m’, 25 years, of Alagarno village; Abubakar Mele, ‘m’, 30 years, of Yasko village; Modu Umar, ‘m’, 20 years, of Bursum village; Modu Maina, ‘m’, 15 years, of Bursum village; Ali Kolo, ‘m’, 20 years, of Alagarno village; Bintu Abukar, ‘f’, 14 years, of Yasko village; Falmata Abukar, ‘f’, 15 years, of Yasko village; Hauwa Ali, ‘f’, 15 years, of Alagarno village; Husam Ali, ‘f’, 14 years of Alagarno village and Mallam Modu, ‘f’, 16 years, of Bursum village.
Isuku said five children aged between one and eight were rescued.
He added: “They 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.”