By Milcah Tanimu

In a significant operation, the Nigerian Army has rescued 387 family members of Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest. This group, comprising men, women, and children, was freed by highbred forces of the Sector-One North-East Joint Taskforce Operations in Kai.

The operation, initially planned to last four days, extended to ten days under the leadership of Brigadier General Diwa. The troops successfully recovered several vehicles and equipment previously seized by Boko Haram from the Nigerian Army at the height of the insurgency.

Welcoming the triumphant soldiers at Sambisa’s entrance in Awulari Konduga LGA, the Sector One Acting Commander, Abubakar Haruna, declared that the terrorists must either surrender or face death, as their known camps and enclaves have been destroyed.

One of the rescued women, Hajara Danjuma, shared her ordeal. She explained that her husband was one of the early members of Boko Haram. After he disappeared, she moved to her parents’ house in Gombe but was forcibly taken to the forest by her husband’s colleagues. She managed to approach the soldiers with her children and those of her deceased co-wife when the army arrived at their camp.

The rescued families, along with the recovered equipment, have been transported to the command headquarters in Maiduguri. They will be delivered to the army headquarters in Abuja for further processing.