Army Frees 567, Clears Boko Haram Purported Spiritual Headquarters

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The Nigerian Army has cleared Boko Haram terrorists from Alagarno, a Borno village notorious as their purported spiritual headquarters.

The conquest followed weeks of coordinated clearance operations between ground forces and the Nigerian Airforce in adjourning villages.

Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, said in a news conference in Maiduguri that 567 civilians held hostage were also freed and several weapons recovered.

The commander said troops in the theatre have been conducting clearing operations on a daily basis aimed at destroying the terrorists still staying in some local government areas and rescue people still in  captivity.

Troops of 81 task force battalion conducted preliminary operations in Boko Haram camps in Kumala, Dole, Kumasi and Moudire villages all around the fringes before launching into Alagarno.

The 27 Task Force Brigade, according to the General, also conducted series of operations leading to the recovery of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) snatched by the terrorists July last year.

The APC now unserviceable and partially burnt by fleeing insurgents was discovered near a riverbed in Bolgore and has since been moved to an unknown destination in Yobe State.

Irabor maintained that the purported online video clip in circulation showing a remorseful Boko Haram commander making a dying testimony does not have any influence on Operation Lafiya Dole as according to him “our gallant troops are determined to completely wipe out all terrorists from our country.”

The Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole also sent out a warning to repentant Boko Haram members hoping to filter into liberated towns where locals are returning to reintegrate back into their communities.

He also warned returning locals against harbouring and giving criminals cover, while advising repentant terrorists to turn themselves in to security operatives.

“Report yourself to the security agencies and the process would be followed. The assurance I am giving to every one of them is that they would be humanely treated in accordance with the best practices which is a component of our rules of engagement.” Irabor said.

Kumshe, Kalabalge, Mainati, Yoyo and Kikinuwa are among villages listed by the theatre commander as successfully captured by home troops in conjunction with the Multinational Joint Task Force with little resistance from the weakened terrorists.