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The Department of State Services, DSS, in collaboration with forest guards, has rescued seven persons abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists in Borno State following a gun battle at a forest enclave.
The development was disclosed in a post on Wednesday by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama via his x handle.
According to the report, the victims were abducted on January 19 while gathering firewood near Ajiri Camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Makama quoted sources as saying that the victims were intercepted by the terrorists during the activity and taken deep into the forest.
Two of them reportedly escaped and returned to Ajiri Camp to alert residents, while the abductors allegedly sent one of the boys back on a bicycle to demand a N20 million ransom.
Following the report, forest guards working with the DSS mobilised to the area and stormed the terrorists’ enclave.
“The operatives switched off their motorcycles and trekked for nearly an hour to avoid detection before engaging the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, which forced the ISWAP elements to flee and abandon their captives,” a source said.
The rescued victims were freed unhurt and are currently undergoing profiling and receiving support from relevant authorities.
Commander of the Forest Guards, Hassan Modu, who coordinated the operation with the DSS, attributed the success to timely intelligence and joint action.
He urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies to help curb criminal activities in the state.
Makama noted that the forest guards are trained, equipped and supervised by the DSS to operate as a community-based auxiliary security outfit, working under its strategic control during joint operations.
DSS, forest guards rescue abducted victims from ISWAP hideout in Borno
