Troops of the 21 Brigade in furtherance of its Boko Haram clearance has liberated 5,000 persons held hostage by the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

This was contained in a statement signed by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman.

According to Usman, the troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, liberated the hostages during a patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages.

“Troops of 21 Brigade and Civilian JTF today conducted a fighting patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages in which they killed 6 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others.

“The troops also liberated over 5,000 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 5 motorcycles and similar number of bicycles.”

In a similar vain, Usman revealed that troops of 7 Division Garrison Rapid Deployment Force, RDF, II, in conjunction with Mobile Police Force and Civilian JTF in Maska Lawanti village in Borno State killed two Boko Haram terrorist.

“The troops also conducted Boko Haram terrorists clearance operations at Masu Yiwa, Ladin Buta, Bazaka, Kesa Gala, Tabla, Fahinde, Shirori, Gizina, Maska Aribe, Maska and Maska Lawanti villages, all in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

“During the clearance operations, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Maska Lawanti in which they killed 2 terrorists and recovered 2 motorcycles.

“Unfortunately, we lost 1 Civilian JTF, while a soldier and 1 Mobile Policeman were wounded in action.

Usman said the “body of the deceased Civilian JTF and the wounded soldier alongside his police counterpart have since been evacuated to Maiduguri.”

He also stated that troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and some vigilantes embarked on fighting patrol along Kusarha-Zalidava general area.

The Army spokesman explained that the patrol team encountered some elements of “Boko Haram around Zalidava-Weige villages in which they killed 2 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 1 General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, with registration number FN 132125, a belt of 7.62mm, NATO, ammunition containing 42 rounds.

“Sadly, one of the vigilantes sustained an injury on his eye. However, he is getting better.”

The army while commiserating with the families of the departed Civilian JTF, however, said all the wounded are in a stable condition and responding to treatment.