Nigerian soldiers killed 100 Boko Haram insurgents and rescued over 1200 captives in Borno border communities after a gun battle at a local market where the insurgents visit weekly, officials and witnesses said.
It was gathered that the insurgents had held more than 2000 villagers captive from various communities around the border areas of the state for more than two years.
Soldiers acting on a tip off by local security operatives stormed Boboshe village where the insurgents usually converged every Monday to trade. The insurgents who mostly go to the market armed opened fire on the soldiers.
According to local sources, the soldiers who returned fire were able to rout the militants after the intense battle.
After the victory in Boboshe, soldiers moved into Garindawaji and Mamawarhi communities where over one thousand civilians were being held captive and set them free.
Many women and young girls were among those rescued.
Falmata Kalli, 30, said Boko Haram gunmen took her away from Marte village about two years ago after they had killed her husband.
She now has a baby after she was sexually abused by Boko Haram insurgents.
“I saw them kill my husband by shooting him. After that, they dragged me away with them, my two children were left with my aged mother in-law, but I don’t know what has become of them now. It has been two years now since they attacked our town, Marte”.
Deputy Governor of the state, Usman Mamman Durkwa yesterday visited Dikwa, the border town where the rescued villagers are being camped by soldiers.
The soldiers briefed the deputy governor on the military action that set the captives free.
Durkwa subsequently ordered that luxury buses be deployed so that the rescued persons can be immediately conveyed to Maiduguri where they would be accommodated in some of the IDP camps.
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