ollowing intensive operations, the Nigeria Army has announced that troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ North-East have rescued 387 hostages held in Sambisa Forest.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, addressed the troops after receiving the hostages at Awulari River side of Konduga local government area of Borno state near Sambisa Forest at the week end.

According to General Haruna, “the rescue operation was conducted based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence.”

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He explained that the 387 rescued persons were civilians, including women and children, who were forced to stay in the forest by Boko Haram insurgents for over a decade ago, adding that the rescued ones were not members of the insurgents.

The military, he added, has also recovered weapons, emeralds, and other equipment from the insurgents, who initially seized them from soldiers and other security operatives.

He pointed out that during the operation, many Boko Haram fighters surrendered to the Army, while others are still surrendering.

“The clearance operation, named Operation Desert Sanity III, involved troops from the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade (114 Battalion), and 199 Special Forces Battalion. They Conducted over 10 days Operation, it resulted in the recapture of major Boko Haram enclaves, including Uqba, Sabilul Huda, Lawanti, Njimia, and Iraqi, all in Sambisa Forest,” Haruna stated.

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The GOC further stressed that the operation will continue to ensure that all parts of the Sambisa Forest are safe, allowing farmers to access their farmlands and reducing criminality in the North-East region.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Waidi Shuaibu, for providing an enabling environment for the operation’s success.

he then urged the troops not to relent until all parts of Sambisa Forest are safe for Nigerians.

Most of the rescued victims who spoke to our Correspondent commend military for their sacrifices, which led to their rescue after many years in captivity.

A football coach working with a male football team in Osogbo, Osun State, simply identified as Adebisi, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services while attempting to sodomise one of his players.

Sources in the Isale Osun Area of Osogbo, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said the suspect was arrested in the area last Wednesday by DSS operatives, who acted on tip-off.

It was further learned that Adebisi met the victim, identified simply as Michael during a training session at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, and took him to a secluded place, where he attempted to touch his genitals.

But while that was on, a guard working in the school, said to be moving around, suddenly appeared, and thus frustrated the plan of the coach, The PUNCH reports.

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The victim, while narrating his encounter with the coach said, “What happened is that I met Coach Adebisi at the playground of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo.

“I know him and some of his ex-players very well. I went there to train. After training, he took me to a secluded area within the compound and he wanted to touch my genitals.

“I was displeased. I didn’t allow him. When I told a few other players, they condemned his action and advised me that I should block him and stop chatting with him.

“I also told an elderly person who asked me to unblock him but the matter was reported to the DSS office in Osogbo.

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“So, I played along and we started chatting again. About two Saturdays ago, he invited me to Fakunle Playground again.”

He continued, “After training, he took me to a secluded area and showed me his private part. While that was on, a security guard passed by and saw us.

“But the guard didn’t know what was going on. We left the place. Last Wednesday, he invited me to a place around Isale Osun, Osogbo. I told the DSS operatives about it.

“I met Adebisi in a house there. I was told the place belonged to his brother. I was with him in the room.

“We were gisting, but later, he moved towards me and told me to remove my clothes and trousers and I obeyed him.

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“For the period I was with him, I was on chat with the captain of my team updating him about happenings.

“He was touching my genitals. Because he felt I was not aroused, he brought out his mobile phone and played porn videos to put me in the mood. We were still in the room when some DSS operatives came in and arrested him. Since then, he has been in their custody.”

When contacted, the Director, of DSS’s Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr Peter Afunaya, confirmed Adebisi’s arrest.

Afunaya in a message sent to our correspondent said, “The investigation is still ongoing. Besides him, many other human traffickers were intercepted.”

A woman identified as Rachel Geoffrey, 23, has been arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command for setting the hands of her two stepchildren on fire.

The suspect who resides in Federal Housing Estate, Girei Local Government Area was arrested for setting fire to the hands of her stepchildren, Genesis Geoffrey, 7, and Idadai, 3.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, who confirmed the incident, said Geoffrey intentionally inflicted severe physical injuries on the 7 and 3-year-old children on May 7.

He said the victims faced several calculated acts of cruelty and Human Rights Violations from their stepmother after the separation of their mother from their father.

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According to him, Genesis and Ijadai got their stepmother angry after eating the plate of rice she had cooked and kept for her husband, because they were hungry.

Reacting, she tied their hands with handkerchiefs and set fire to their hands, resulting in the severe injuries they sustained.

The Commissioner of Police CP Dankombo Morris, expressed worries as he advised members of the public particularly parents to live up to expectations by providing the basic needs of their wards. He also vowed to diligently make sure that the suspect is persecuted.