Troops of 73 and 202 Battalions of the Nigerian Army have arrested 20 Boko Haram terrorists in the Bama council area of Borno State.
They also took custody of eight suspected insurgents along with their family members comprising 10 women and 22 children at Ruwaza village of the Council.
In a statement last Saturday in Maiduguri, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed that: “The suspects and their family members surrendered to the Army during the military clearance operations in the Bama/Damboa axis.
He added: “Troops of forwarding Operational Base (FOB) operating along BOCOBS- Bama road; also arrested 20 terrorists and their families,” as well as surrendering to troops at Nbewa village in Bama Local Government Area.
He said the surrendering families of the insurgents comprised 15 women and 26 children.
“The suspects all surrendered to the troops, during clearance operations in the areas on 29 July 2021 following ongoing intense clearance operations by troops in the general areas”, he said.
He said the children in custody have also been vaccinated against polio vaccines.
According to him, the suspected women were screened for preliminary investigations before handing them to the State Government.
In a related development, troops of 73 Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) in conjunction with Civilian JTF) and hunters intercepted a Boko Haram terrorist logistics supplier during the fighting patrol along Molai/Damboa road.
While sighting the suspected suppliers; the combined team mobilized and stormed the location where they were arrested along the road leading to Sambisa Forest.
“They were perfecting plans to deliver logistics to the insurgents in the forest,” he said.
He said the items recovered from the suspects include a vehicle, four jerry cans of petrol, a gallon of engine oil, a motorcycle pump and oil treatment.
Other items recovered; include a torchlight and mosquito net, two each praying mats and blankets, four spanners, 10 packets of batteries and three dozens of rubber patch solution and food items.
