The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that it was supporting paramilitary agencies to return to their positions in liberated communities in the North East.
The information is contained in a statement issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman in Abuja.
He said that the Army was training personnel of agencies in relevant areas of basic security and surveillance operations in the region.
Usman added that personnel of some of the agencies were already collaborating with ground troops to conduct patrols in the general areas.
He explained that the Nigerian Army recently supported the redeployment of 21 personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Dikwa, Borno.
“Troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in conjunction with a detachment of the Nigerian Custom Service have been conducting patrol along Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road to keep it safe.
“More paramilitary agencies have started returning to their units in some of the towns that were taken over by the insurgents.
“To this end, the Nigerian Immigration Service recently deployed its personnel to Dikwa, the 21 personnel have been briefed at the 22 Brigade Garrison and are undergoing training on mines and IED awareness and ground signs.”
Usman said that ground troops in different patrols also rescued 57 persons hitherto held hostage by Boko Haram insurgents in parts of Adamawa and Borno.
The Army spokesman said the hostages comprising women and children had been taken to different military locations nearest to them for further screening and rehabilitation.
He said elements of the 22 Brigade Garrison rescued 14 Boko Haram hostages during an administrative patrol in Chingowa village near Dikwa.
Usman said troops of 114 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade on patrol of road linking Izge and Bitta rescued 43 hostages at Madube.
He said the hostages had been taken to the brigade headquarters for screening and onward movement to the nearest camp for displaced persons.
Usman said two insurgents were killed, while three soldiers and 13 civilians were wounded in an ambush during one of the patrols near Gwoza.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that many areas have been cleared, while many hostages have been set free and scores of insurgents killed in different patrols conducted by troops across the region. (NAN)