Troops operating under Operation “HADIN KAI” have arrested three suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, recovered weapons and rescued a Cameroonian national allegedly abducted by terrorists in Borno State.
The latest operations were disclosed in an operational military report on incidents recorded within the last 24 hours and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.
According to the military, troops of the 151 Task Force Battalion rescued the Cameroonian national at about 2:15 p.m. on August 17.
The victim was allegedly abducted by terrorists at Ashigashiya Village, an area located between Gwoza in Borno State and Cameroon.
Following the rescue, the Cameroonian national was taken into military custody for further investigation and necessary action.
In a separate operation in Adamawa State, troops of the 232 Battalion, deployed in Garaha, Hong Local Government Area, arrested two suspected ISWAP members on August 16.
The military said the troops conducted the operation alongside local hunters as part of efforts to identify and disrupt terrorist activities in the area.
During the operation, the troops also arrested another suspected associate of the terrorists while the individual was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound.
The operation led to the recovery of several items allegedly linked to the activities of the suspects. Among the recovered items were a mobile phone, a SIM card, two bows and arrows, one locally made sword and four locally fabricated guns.
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The military said the suspects and the recovered items were subsequently taken into custody for further investigation and appropriate action.
In another operation in Borno State, troops of the 151 Task Force Battalion discovered an abandoned AK-47 rifle buried underground at Ngurusoye Village in Bama Local Government Area.
The weapon was discovered during a routine farm patrol, according to the military. Troops recovered the rifle and handed it over to the relevant military authorities for further action.
The military said the recovery formed part of ongoing efforts to prevent terrorists and other criminal elements from accessing weapons and maintaining operational capacity within vulnerable communities.
The latest operations come amid sustained military efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, logistics and freedom of movement across Nigeria’s North-East.
According to the military, troops have continued to combine offensive operations with intelligence-led patrols and cooperation with local security actors to deny terrorists access to communities and disrupt their activities.
The military said the arrest of suspected operatives and recovery of weapons would support ongoing investigations into terrorist activities and help security agencies identify wider support networks operating in the region.
It added that continued collaboration between security agencies and local communities remained essential to the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality.
The military therefore urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing counterterrorism operations.
It said such cooperation would help troops identify terrorist movements, locate criminal hideouts and prevent attacks on communities across the region.
NAN
