Despite the much acclaimed cease fire agreement reached between the Federal Government and members of the Boko Haram Sect, it looks like that this agreement only exists on paper as violence seems to still be raging on the streets of Sokoto. An operation, which lasted almost eight hours, according to a military source, started at about 2am on Thursday and lasted until after 9am.
According to the source, the terrorists were engaged in fierce gun battle but were overcome, and the forces recorded no casualty. The source also added that the security forces killed and captured the terrorists, including their wives and children.
Briefing newsmen at the Azazi Hall of 1 Brigade, Sokoto Army Barracks, yesterday, the brigade commander enjoined every Nigerian to make peace a priority, just as he assured of the readiness of the security agents to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of all Nigerians, as well as protect her territorial integrity in line with global best practices at all times.
Speaking on the operational method, the commander said, “On a tip-off, we undertook a joint operation in the general area of Gidan Dare, around the Kalambaina road, where a terrorist hideout was discovered.
“Operations began in the earlier morning hours of today (yesterday) and I am pleased to inform you that the operation was hugely successful. During the course of the operation, fatalities on the part of the terrorists were recorded. To be precise, one of the terrorists was killed, one captured, five women and six children were rescued and they are very safe. Two of the women are pregnant and are receiving ante-natal care at the moment.”
Investigations revealed that the five women were from Borno, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto states and the neighbouring Niger Republic. Of the six children rescued, one boy was aged 5, and another girl, 3. Two others boys were aged 2, and there was a 4-month-old infant girl.
The slain suspected suspect, believed to be a wanted person, was said to be a famous member of the terrorist group, while the captured accomplice, a male of about 20 years, was alive.
Gen. Ibrahim also thanked the people for their support: “Without the cooperation of the good people of Sokoto State, most of the successes we are recording would have been impossible.”
Gen. Ibrahim mentioned the items recovered within the household: “ six AK 47 rifles, a pump-action rifle, 13 magazines of ammunition, seven improvised explosive devices, 32 hi-watt (6f22) 9v batteries for transistor radios”.
Other items include an axe, four handsets, 66 SIM cards, three memory cards, 10 Orlando Milk cartons, 56 detonator cables used in IEDs, three handset chargers, N76,685.00, 701 7.62mm ammunition rounds, 13 IEDs prime clocks, an Abuja vehicle plate number (EL 295 ABJ) and a wrist-watch, a copy of the complete Holy Qur’an, a prayer rosary (Tetsebi) and other Arabic books.
About four months ago, some suspected terrorists engaged the JTF in a similar gun battle and four of them were allegedly killed at Baddo Quarters in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto State.