Army hands over 75 rescued civilians to Borno government for psychosocial, livelihoods support
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, has said that 75 Boko Haram victims were rescued for handover to the Borno state government.
According to him, the victims were rescued by troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade and 199 Special Forces Battalion during their recent operations in Sambisa Forest.
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, while presenting the victims to the state government in Maiduguri
General Shuaibu, represented by the Deputy Theatre Commander, Brig-Gen. Anthony Okpodu, stated, “Today’s handing over event highlights the collective efforts of OPHK, the state government, and other key stakeholders in stabilising the Northeast; this will ensure the safety and well-being of people affected in the 15-year terrorism.
He said the OPHK remains committed to its mandate by facilitating the restoration of normalcy in the region, comprising Borno and five other states.
Besides the restoration of peace, Okpodu added that the sustained clearance of the forest will reactivate various socio-economic activities in the insurgency-affected region.
“Our sustained operations are focused on eliminating insurgency threats and protecting the people along with enabling government structures. On how the Boko Haram victims were rescued, he disclosed that the terrorists’ hideouts in Ukuba, Njimia, Dabil, Huda, Garin Falluja, and Gobara had to be cleared in rescuing 75 civilians, comprising 34 each of women and children and seven adults.
He noted that this enabled the troops to degrade the insurgents’ capabilities by destroying their logistic bases, makeshift shelters, weapon caches, and IED-making facilities.
He said that the troops provided critical interventions, including child vaccination and first aid, before profiling the rescued victims for handing over to the state government.
The Deputy Theatre Commander, urged the people to continue remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activities in communities.
While receiving the rescued persons, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by the Director of Welfare, Hajiya Aisha Shettima, said the rescued persons will be provided with mental and psychosocial support at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Centre, while the 34 children will be enrolled in schools.
She added that the 41 women and men are also to be provided with skills acquisition training and livelihoods support.
