By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS
The Nigerian army has rescued 20 more women and children from the hideouts of Boko Haram militants, weeks after army forces freed nearly a thousand captives from Sambisa Forest.
Defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a Saturday statement that several militants were also killed while a soldier died in the operation that took place on Friday.
"Despite continuous encounter with large number of landmines which still litter the Sambisa forest, troops have forged ahead with the ongoing offensive operations as scores of the terrorists died in the assault on their bases on Friday," Olukolade said.
"Several of their weapons and equipment perished after the encounter," he added.
The spokesman said that one soldier was killed and ten others were injured in the explosion of landmines planted by militants.
"Some equipment were also damaged or affected by the detonation of land mines in several points in the forest," the spokesman said.
Olukolade said that a total of 20 women and children have been rescued during the military operation on Friday.
"They have all been airlifted out of the forest. The wounded soldiers have also been moved out for necessary treatment," he said.
The military spokesman said that four camps inhabited by the militants were destroyed while their major ammunition dumps were smashed.
"An armored tank and over 10 vehicles of various types being used for their operations as well as 70 motorcycles and 15 tricycles of the terrorists also perished during the operation," Olukolade said.
"Air and artillery bombardment of identified terrorists camps and locations in various aspect of the forest including the Alafa aspect is still ongoing as troops continue the offensive action on terrorists in the forest," he added.
The Nigerian military – backed by Nigerien and Chadian troops – recently liberated all territory captured earlier by Boko Haram in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in northeastern Nigeria.
It also rescued close to 1,000 hostages from Boko Haram's Sambisa Forest hideouts.
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