Troops rescue abducted children, arrest ‘Boko Haram collaborator’ in Borno college

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) says troops of sector 3 have arrested a Boko Haram collaborator at Federal Government Girls College Mongonu, Borno state.

Kamarudeen Adegoke, MNJTF’s chief military public information officer, said the collaborator, identified as Umar Goni, was apprehended in collaboration with operatives of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the state.

Adegoke said Goni was arrested while attempting to cast his vote during the governorship and house of assembly elections on March 18.

He said during the operation in the same sector, the troops rescued nine women and eight children suspected to be family members of the terrorists.

“The collaborator named Umar Goni who is an indigene of Kukawa was arrested while trying to cast his vote in the recently held elections in Nigeria. During the preliminary investigation, he confessed to being an errand boy for the terrorists in Kukawa. Detailed investigation ongoing,” the statement reads.

Twenty terrorists were also said to have been killed during other operations, while 63 insurgents were arrested with explosives in a joint operation.

In Niger Republic, the troops arrested 30 terrorists and captured 36 others in the southern zone of Tamour.

One M80 rifle was recovered from a terrorist who was said to have voluntarily surrendered in Gueskerou, a village in the south-east of Niger Republic.

“Likewise, during a joint operation named Operation KOUKOURI conducted by the Sector alongside Nigerian troops of Sector 3 dominated Kanama, Bula Buni, Maine, Tam Match 1 and Forest Matali 2. Other areas covered included Dutchi, Cetomani Forest, Alagurno Forest and Guma Saigala where twenty terrorists were neutralized while sixty-three suspected BHTs were captured alive,” the statement reads.

“Items recovered included three AK 47 rifles, one PKM metal link with nineteen rounds of ammunitions, two Improvised Explosive Devices making items, one hundred and twenty-nine rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm ammunitions, three military uniforms, one pair of ranger kits and two magazines. Items destroyed included two motorcycles, sixty solar panels, and five motorcycle fuel tanks among others were destroyed.”

The MJTF information officer said Abdul Kalifa, force commander, commended the troops for their efforts and urged the sectors to sustain the operational tempo and adopt fierce means of dealing with the terrorists.