Troops of 26 and 223 Battalions of the Army Headquarters Strike Group and Armed Forces Special Forces have continued the offensive against the remnants of Boko Haram in furtherance of Operation CRACKDOWN. The troops, according to a statement by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kusheka Usman, have cleared remnants of Boko Haram in Izza and Njima general area. The statement explained that though the troops did not encounter any Boko Haram terrorists, they found fresh footprints, motorcycle and bicycle tyre marks in the abandoned places. 
The troops, Usman's statement, added, recovered eight vehicles abandoned by Boko Haram terrorists. They also cleared all Boko Haram hideouts along the way, including camps at Bula Buba and its environs where they recovered one Hilux, one Canter truck, 15 AK-47 rifle magazines, a 60mm High Explosive Bomb, 200 G3 rifle magazines, three Browning Machine Gun tripod stands and a 60mm mortar bipod stand. Other recoveries include several metal links of 7.62mm (NATO) and 12mm ammunitions.
Troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, on Sunday, Usman disclosed, rescued 35 civilians comprising six men, seven women, seven male minors and 15 female minor, who claimed to be coming from Balaganje village.
Preliminary investigation revealed that they had been living in Balaganje as hostages of Boko Haram terrorists, who threatened to kill them if they attempted to escape. Further investigations are being conducted.
Usman added that a number of Boko Haram terrorists have continued to surrender. On Saturday, said the Army spokesperson, seven of the 16 male adults that met troops from Balazala and Ahamdaga Makaranta villages in the Dure district confessed to being Boko Haram members.
Army investigations revealed that three of them were Ameers (leaders) in the Boko Haram hierarchy. One Hamidu Buba was found to be the Ameer (leader) of tailors while Musa Buba is Ameer of mechanics and Ali Idrissa, an Ameer of carpenters.
The others were said to have confessed to being “Rijan” (fighters), who participated in Boko Haram attacks on many villages and towns. The statement said the terrorists admitted that the military onslaught has decimated them.
They were also quoted as saying that they have run out of food and now feed on roots and unripe mangoes. They also said 2 of their members sent for food were killed at Frigi crossing point some days earlier by troops, (you may recall that we reported the military’s ambush at the crossing point).
Similarly, troops of 122 Task Force Battalion injunction with some elements of 26 Task Force Brigade, on receipt of information from some escapees, caused suspected Boko Haram terrorists flee, and leaving behind an abducted 16- year old female cripple. The terrorists also abandoned a large stock of grains stored in an underground pit. Other items recovered include grinding machine, two tricycles and one photograph printer. The troops pursued the fleeing insurgents and killed some of them.
Around Kandera Dam and Anguwar Fulani, troops of the 121 Task Force Battalion also conducted clearance operation at Kadera Dam and Anguwar Fulani, while troops of 192 Battalion that conducted a similar operation to Guduf, Nagadio, Duma, and Kusarha. The Boko Haram terrorists ran to the top of the mountains and they were engaged heavy mortar fire.
At Sambisa, the 7 Division and its supporting elements intensified the clearance and rescue operations deep inside Sambisa forest. On Friday, they cleared all the terrorists hibernating in Alafa.
In the same vein, men of.7 Division Garrison arrested two suspected fuel suppliers to the terrorists in two Volkswagen Golf cars with registration numbers Borno MAG-112XA and Borno AA739-KBG. They were arrested at NNPC Mega Filling Station, along Damboa Road, Maiduguri at 2.00pmtoday, Friday.
The two suppliers modified the booth of their cars with constructed tanks to take in more fuel for their accomplices hiding in the forests. One of the reconstructed tanks contained150 litres of petrol while the other was empty.
Both suspects have been handed over to the Joint Intelligent Centre for further interrogation.
Successes were also recorded in other areas. Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade cleared Boko Haram enclaves along Galtha Baba, Galtha Musa, Bulakurma, Shatimari, Chukruk, Bulangaje, and Disa villages, the statement claimed.
During the operation, one Boko Haram terrorist was captured alive and three motorcycles, bags of grains, their flags and uniforms were recovered. Other items recovered include suicide bomber’s hijab, mobile phone, a dance gun, as well as foodstuff and cooking utensils.
The troops also rescued 15 persons that were held hostages by Boko Haram.
The Army, however, disclosed that two armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Fortunately, no human casualty was recorded and the damage to the AFVs was minimal.