BORNO: RRS rescues abducted bridal train from Boko Haram

BUT for the prompt intervention of a joint team of military and police, a newlywed would have spent her wedding night in the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists having being kidnapped by the dreadful group.

The bride, together with her team, was kidnapped by the insurgents yesterday at about 1pm somewhere in Mainok on Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway.

However, the  joint team rescued the bridal train from the clutches of Boko Haram insurgents on Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.

It was learnt that the insurgents forced the abductees to drive their two vehicles into the bush and begin a long journey to destination believed to be Sambisa Forest, Boko Haram stronghold.

The bride was said to have left Maiduguri with her team for the groom’s residence in Damaturu in a convoy of two vehicles.

The insurgents, who have continued to lay siege on the highway for days, commandeered the two vehicles conveying the bride and her team into the bush.

The joint team of the military and members of the Borno State Rapid Response Squad (comprising policemen, members of Civilian JTF and local hunters) hotly pursued the insurgents.

After covering some kilometres in pursuit of the terrorists on bush path, they were able to get to a spot where the insurgents were holding on to their captives

Speaking on the rescue, the Borno RRS Commander, Abioye Babalola, who led his team to retrieve the abductees, said they went throughout the night on the pursuit of the terrorist group.

He noted that the recovery team was led by an officer of the Nigerian Army with strong presence of soldiers, but “team was on hand to offer assistance.”

He said, “After a long pursuit, we were able to get them freed, but we had to overpower the terrorist group who exchange gunfire with us for several minutes.”

“The bride and her team and two male drivers were freed. In all they were 15 persons free,” Babalola added.