Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 87 civilians in separate operations and repelled terrorist attacks in Kebbi, Niger and Kogi states, recovering weapons, ammunition and motorcycles.
The operations were conducted between Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, according to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
In Kebbi, troops of the 8 Division Strike Force Battalion at Forward Operating Base Maiyama came under attack from about 100 terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons.
The report said the troops repelled the attack with reinforcements from Forward Operating Bases Kwarikwasa and Koko, as well as the 1 Battalion Quick Reaction Force.
The combined forces engaged the terrorists, forcing them to retreat with gunshot wounds and abandon one AK-47 rifle, 120 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one magazine and 17 motorcycles.
In Niger State, troops of the 18 Brigade, Operation Savannah Shield, acted on intelligence about the movement of terrorists on about 300 motorcycles and encountered an ambush along the Tegina-Garin Gabas-Zungeru road.
The troops engaged the terrorists and rescued 84 civilians who had been trapped in Kundu Village, Rafi Local Government Area.
One terrorist was reportedly found dead, while the troops recovered a motorcycle, a mobile phone and two locally made guns.
“Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and were evacuated to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, but one of them died while being evacuated,” the report said.
In Kogi State, troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke, rescued three kidnapped victims after responding to a distress call along the Okene bypass.
The troops found an abandoned vehicle and traced the kidnappers’ route before the criminals, upon sighting the soldiers, abandoned the victims and fled.
One of the rescued victims sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to a hospital, while the other two were assisted to continue their journey.
Meanwhile, troops of Forward Operating Base Shagari responded to a terrorist blockade along the Shagari-Tambuwal road in Sokoto State and successfully cleared the route.
The operation restored the free movement of motorists and pedestrians along the road, according to the report.
In Plateau State, troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace, rescued a civilian attacked by suspected militia members along the Rarin-Sho road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
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The victim, who sustained machete cuts, was evacuated to the Primary Health Center, Sho, while his motorcycle was recovered.
The troops also responded to another attack around Rentis Road, Kafi Abu-Kurra, where they found one person dead and another suffering from gunshot wounds.
The injured victim was evacuated to the General Hospital, Barkin Ladi, while the body of the deceased was deposited at a morgue.
