DHQ reveals how train attack victims were rescued

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed how the remaining 23 hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack were released.

It said the victims, who were abducted on March 28, were rescued through a non-kinetic operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the security agencies in the country, on Wednesday.

The Director, Defence Media Operation (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami, who made the disclosure, however, refused to give details on the rescue operations.

Gen Danmadami spoke at the biweekly media briefing on updates of military operations conducted between September 22- October 6, 2022, while responding to questions from journalists on how the hostages regained their freedom.

The DMO spokesman said: “Wanting to know details is not the issue for now. The important thing is that these people have been held captive for six months and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with other security agencies, through the committee that was set up by the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, secured their release.

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“When it comes to operations, we normally tell you there are kinetic and non-kinetic operations. This is part of the non-kinetic operation that was conducted. We already know the trauma that the abductees and their family members went through. Giving you more details will subject them and their families to more trauma.”

Speaking on military operations conducted within the period under review, Danmadami said troops conducted several ambushes, clearance operations, fighting patrols, cordon and search, as well as kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the various theatres of operations that yielded tremendous successes.

He said two abducted Chibok school girls, Yana Pogu and Rejoice Senki, with their children, alongside 12 other abducted victims were rescued at Bula Davo village in Bama Local Government Area and Kawur village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

He further stated that another 418 suspected repentant terrorists, who claimed to have lost interest in the Boko Haram ideology surrendered to troops at different locations with their families. He listed the surrendered terrorists to include 44 adults males, 135 adult females and 239 children.

Danmadami added that 29 Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province logistics suppliers were arrested by soldiers who also nabbed suspected terrorists ammo technician at Gorom village in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, with 300 empty cases of ammo suspected to be used for fabricating 7.62mm specials, while six terrorists informant and collaborators, including a foreigner were arrested at different locations.

Giving an update of military operations conducted within the period under review, Gen Danmadami said: “Troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North East Zone have sustained operational activities in their general area, as they conducted operational activities in villages, mountains, towns and cities. Between September 22 to October 4, 2022, troops conducted ambushes, clearance operations, fighting patrols and cordon and search as well as other operations at different locations in Biu, Damboa, Kaga, Kukawa and Gubio Local Government Areas, all in Borno State.

“During the operations, troops arrested 29 Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province logistics suppliers. Items recovered from the Boko Haram include 50 big bags of dry fish, two big sacks of fried meat, 55 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit, one big bag of coal, 13 bags of breads, one bag of salt, one bag of beans, five cartons of detergent, three packs of batteries, 50 leathers of mosquito coil, 10 mobile phones, four vehicles, one bicycle and the a total sum of N2,479,740.00, as well as other sundry items.”