The Nigerian Army says its troops deployed in the North East have rescued Lydia Simon, a Chibok girl who had been held captive by Boko Haram terrorists for several years.
In April 2014, the terrorist group kidnapped 276 school girls in Chibok, a town in northeast Nigeria. About 57 of the girls managed to escape on the night of their capture.
Ten years now after the abduction took place, some of the girls were yet to be rescued as they had remained with their abductors.
However, the Army said that Lydia, who was identified to be number 68 on the list of missing Chibok girls, was rescued along with her three children by troops conducting Operation Desert Sanity III, around Ngoshe in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to the statement, Lydia was five months pregnant at the time of her rescue and claimed to be from Pemi town in Chibok.
The Nigerian Army did not disclose when she was rescued.
Nigerian Army also said that three Islamic terrorists terrorising Benue State communities and their environs had been neutralised by its troops.
A statement issued by the Nigerian Army on Thursday said that the terrorists were ambushed by troops deployed for Counter-terrorism and Counter-insurgency operations in the North Central on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. It said the troops neutralised the three terrorists, who were on a mission to wreak havoc.
The statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that the troops were responding to actionable intelligence when they intercepted the terrorists who were armed with AK 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons in “Tse Kpese Community in Zaki Biam Local Government of Benue State.”
“The gallant troops laid wait for the terrorists and engaged them in a gun battle, neutralizing 3 of them. The troops also recovered 3 AK 47 Rifles and 4 Magazines from the terrorists.”
Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army would continue to take decisive actions against terrorist activities in the region and remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of the citizenry and the nation in general.
