Military Rescue Abducted Victims in Yobe, Probe 2 Soldiers for Alleged Collaboration with ISWAP
Troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Operation Desert Sanity IV have successfully rescued four kidnapped civilians from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a counter-offensive along the Gashua–Azare highway in Yobe State, PRNigeria reports.
However, the operation has also led to the investigation of two soldiers for allegedly leaking military movements to the insurgents.
Security and intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the rescue operation was launched around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, May 9, following credible intelligence that insurgents had abducted travelers while moving on 15 motorcycles.
Read Also:
Quick Response Forces from the battalion swiftly mobilized and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight, overpowering them and forcing a retreat. The troops pursued the fleeing insurgents up to six kilometers from the ambush site, resulting in the safe recovery of four abducted civilians.
Recovered items from the scene included a motorcycle, a pumping machine, a motorcycle tube, a plier, and three spanners.
In a separate but related development, two soldiers of the same battalion are under investigation for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists. Military intelligence reportedly intercepted phone communications linking the suspects to the kidnapping incident.
Sources revealed that the soldiers may have leaked the movement of a patrol team along the Buratai–Kamuya–Azare–Gashua axis, which is believed to have facilitated the ambush. The compromised information is suspected to have played a role in the terrorists’ initial success before troops intervened.
Authorities are said to be intensifying efforts to conclude the investigation and ensure that any personnel found guilty of sabotage are held accountable.
By PRNigeria
