Troops on special operation free 400 hostages, recover arms and ammunitions

Troops of 7 Division acting on intelligence information, carried out a special operation at Chingurimi, Walasa and Masa villages on Wednesday, May 4.

The villages were believed to have a large concentration of abducted women and children  held hostage by  Boko Haram terrorists.

Army spokesman Col Sani Usman said in a statement that the "troops killed quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists and rescued 17 women, an old man and 24 children at the area.

" They also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 6 rounds of 7.62mm, 295 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 12 Dane Guns, 21 unserviceable mobile telephone handsets and one serviceable as well as150 different SIM cards.

"In all, over 400 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists were freed by the troops," he said.