Troops on clearance operations in the North-East have rescued 88 people in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and killed three Boko Haram insurgents during an encounter.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said 28 of those rescued, claimed they escaped from Bula Musa village.

Usman said the 28 people comprised two men, nine women and 17 children, adding that the troops killed three terrorists during separate encounter, saying they have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies.

He said another 23, comprising a man, five women and 17 children were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama, saying this was after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.

He said those deployed at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.

‪The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages. ‪

He said following information that terrorists were extorting residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds. ‪Usman said the troops recovered one AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the insurgents.

In a related development, Usman said the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam Zanna Karamma had visited Bama IDPs camp.

He said the team registered internally displaced persons below 17 of age for distribution of non-food items, adding that they would be trained on skills acquisition and construction of temporary shelter.