No fewer than 386 people, mostly women and children, have been rescued in the Sambisa forest 10 years after their abduction, says the Nigerian Army.

The acting GOC 7 Division, AGL Haruna, said this while speaking to journalists at the outskirts of Sambisa forest in Konduga  LGA  after welcoming the troops that conducted the 10-day operation.

Mr Haruna said the operation tagged ‘Operation Desert Sanity III’ was to clear Sambisa forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists as well as provide some of them eager to surrender as observed the opportunity to do so.

“Our effort is to ensure that we clear remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender. With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender as they have started.

“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386 and I am sure the number will increase by today,” Mr Haruna said.

The GOC addressed the troops on the message of the Chief of Army Staff, lauding their performance and professionalism during the operation and urging them to sustain the tempo.

Some of those rescued who spoke said they had been in captivity for the past 10 years.

The troops from 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade, and 199 Special Forces participated in the operation. 

(NAN)