A security team led by police officers engaged Boko Haram
gunmen in a shootout and rescued many people earlier
kidnapped by the terrorists.
The incident happened on Friday and involved the Rapid
Response Squad (RRS) of the Borno State Government.
The operation was confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by some of
the victims and an official of the RRS.
The incident occurred at about 4.30 p.m. along the Maiduguri-
Kano highway.
The attack on travellers on the route was the first since
February when gunmen attacked a bridal train and abducted
many of them.
It is also believed to be the first by Boko Haram since the
death of the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, who
reportedly committed suicide during a fight with a splinter
group, ISWAP .
The Rescue
The RRS, led by their commander, Abioye Babalola, responded
to a distress call by some of the travellers who had managed
to escape.
Sources familiar with the incident said the gunmen who rode
in five gun trucks stormed the highway after engaging some
personnel of the counterterrorism unit of the police.
Many vehicles stopped while travellers jumped out of and fled
into the bush.
“While they were rounding up some of us, the travellers who
could not escape, the RRS squad suddenly arrived and
engaged them in fierce shooting, which forced them to
abandon the passengers,” said Bashir Musa, a traveller who
survived the attack.
“It was a fierce fight and the RRS policemen did well because
they arrived on time and kept on fighting and advancing while
shooting teargas that forced the gunmen to flee and left us
lying face down.”
Ismaila Jajere, a driver, also confirmed the incident.
“I was coming in from Damaturu with my Maiduguri-bound
passengers when suddenly I saw a military vehicle trailing. I
tried to give them a way to pass but when they were
overtaking me, I noticed that it was not a military truck but
Boko Haram.
“I was scared, so I decided to make a u-turn. When they
moved ahead and then suddenly turned and started following
us, so I had to stop the vehicle and told my passengers that
we were under attack by Boko Haram.
“We ran into the bush, as we noticed three more trucks of
Boko Haram coming. It was scary. They did not fire at us, but
we had to keep running. We later returned to the highway and
a payloader gave us a lift to Auno where we informed the
police RRS who moved in toward their direction.”
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on phone, the RRS
Commander, Mr Babalola, said, “we only did what we are
mandated to do which is protecting commuters along the
Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.
“It happened at Garin Kuturu, some few kilometres before
Auno, and when we responded to the quick intel shared with
us by the locals. But before we reached the spot we noticed
that they had fired … and they hit a patrol vehicle of the
counter-terrorist squad. So we moved in and we saw that they
were rounding up passengers.
“We engaged them while releasing tear-gas that blinded them.
They eventually fled and abandoned the passengers who we
assisted to safety. We have also helped a driver rescue his
abandoned vehicle, a Sharon minibus,” Mr Babalola said.



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/470081-police-officers-engage-boko-haram-in-shootout-rescue-kidnapped-travellers.html

Fake news

This is so unusual of the coward Nigerian police.

MadamVanessa:
Fake news

This is so unusual of the coward Nigerian police.

E pain am.

E really pain am.

We want more of police involvement in Borno

Good job guys

Nice

Yes we need to upgrade the police tactical team o

Simplyleo:

E pain am.

E really pain am.

Go and explain how a traditional ruler was abducted in the other thread

audio rescuing...

Simplyleo:

E pain am.

E really pain am.

audio rescuing...

Videos or we don't believe it

uptimumOne23:
We want more of police involvement in Borno

Good job guys

Always believing fake news

If this truly happened then I must say the police have impressed me.

MadamVanessa:
Fake news

This is so unusual of the coward Nigerian police.

They will do better just encourage your BH bobos to sit up. Sorry for your loss.

Simplyleo:

E pain am.

E really pain am.

And another talk