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

Sani Usman, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja late Tuesday.

The statement said that 28 people who claimed to have escaped from Bula Musa village and “have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies.”

Usman said that another 23 people were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Bama, after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.

The statement added: “In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.

In a related development, troops at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.

“The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on preliminary investigation, confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters, and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village, Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.

“They attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over to the Joint Investigation Centre for further interrogation,’’ Usman said.

‪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. One AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.

Usman added that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam 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.