Army ‘rescues’ three kidnap victims in Borno

The Nigerian army says its troops rescued three kidnap victims from Boko Haram insurgents.

The army said the victims were rescued at Firgi village in Bama local government area of Borno state.

Aminu Iliyasu, army operations media coordinator, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Iliyasu said the victims were rescued after the troops, acting on information, blocked and engaged the insurgents in a fierce gunfight.

He added that the troops safely detonated improvised-explosive devices planted by the insurgents on Bitta-Yamteke road in the state.

He said a truck loaded with grains was recovered from the insurgents, and that they succumbed to superior firepower by abandoning the truck and fleeing.

According to him, the troops are on the trail of the fleeing insurgents while the rescued persons have been escorted back to their destination.

“Troops continue to dominate the area and deny the criminal elements freedom of action within the entire theatre of operation,” he said.

Iliyasu also said the army raided hideouts of some identified kidnap kingpins in Obio/Akpor, Tai and Gokana LGAs of Rivers state and arrested four high-profile suspects.

He said the suspects had been on the wanted-person’s list.

“The suspects are currently undergoing interrogations and will soon be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution,” Iliyasu said.