Nigerian troops on Tuesday carried out a daring and precise operation on Boko Haram’s stronghold of Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women among whom were believed to be the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped over a year ago by Boko Haram insurgents.
No fewer than three major terrorists’ camps were also destroyed in the well-coordinated attacks that include the raid of the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest.
Confirming the success of the operation, Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and their origins, adding that he could not state if any of them was from Chibok until after thorough screening and proper investigations.
FLASH: Troops this afternoon rescued 200 girls & 93 women from #Sambisa Forest. We cannot confirm if the #ChibokGirls are in this group /1
— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DefenceInfoNG) April 28, 2015
According to him, “I can only confirm the rescued this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women in different camps in the forest.
“We are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now being screened and profiled. Please don’t misquote me on their origin. We will provide more details later.”
Meanwhile, at least 17 people and five others were killed by suspected members of the blood-lust insurgents in Marguba community and other surrounding villages of Beneshiekh, the headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno state.
The insurgents according to sources also injured many residents after setting ablaze several houses mostly thatched roofs before looting foodstuff and livestock.
Beneshiekh is North-West and about 76 kilometers drive from Maiduguri, the state capital. It is located on the fringes of Sambisa forest along Maiduguri- Damaturu- Kano road which have witnessed series of deadly attacks by the terrorists.
This development is coming barely 24 hours after some group of insurgents laid ambush on some returning residents, killing 21 in Bultaram village of Gujba council area of the state while attempting to return to their sacked village to evacuate their abandoned foodstuff and livestock.
Fleeing residents who are now taking refuge in Beneshiekh town say that “the insurgents came from Sambisa forest axis and stormed the villages on Monday evening, wrecked havoc as they had a field day without confrontation”.