Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed two terrorists and a kidnapper while rescuing seven kidnapped women and nine children in Borno and Kogi states.

In a statement on its official X handle on Friday, the army said the troops deployed to the North-East carried out the operation in joint efforts with vigilantes.

It said the operations “resulted in the neutralisation of terrorists, the rescue of hostages, as well as recovery of arms and other assorted items.”

The army also said that in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, “troops executed an ambush operation targeting terrorists’ staging areas around Pulka and Ashagashiya.”

It said that during the operation, troops eliminated a terrorist while others escaped and abandoned their belongings.

“The troops successfully rescued seven women and nine children from the clutches of the terrorists,” it said.

Also, it noted that they “recovered one submachine gun (SMG), three bicycles, four blankets, cooking utensils, and several other items.”

According to the army, troops also neutralised a terrorist in an ambush operation in the Komala general area of the state. They recovered two AK-47 rifles, one SMG magazine, a motorbike, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, two magazines containing 29 rounds of 7.62 mm (special) ammunition, and 91 belted links of PKT ammunition.

Soldiers also launched a swift operation to counteract terrorists’ nefarious activities in Ayati Village, Ukum LGA of Borno, following intelligence reports about their movements.

“The terrorists, upon sighting the troops, fled, abandoning one AK-47 rifle, one Dane gun, two 83 mm launchers, four locally made launchers, and one rifle magazine,” the army said. It added that troops seized “19 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) and five rounds of 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition and other assorted arms.”

The army said that its troops collaborated with vigilantes and local hunters in Kogi upon information regarding a planned ransom payment to kidnappers.

“The troops engaged the kidnappers at the planned exchange point in Okunran Okoloke General Area. During the encounter, one kidnapper was neutralised, and an AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing 15 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition and one motorcycle were recovered,” it stated.

The army said the modest but significant operational successes indicate the troops’ resilience and dedication in mitigating security challenges nationwide.