NO fewer than 27 Boko Haram insurgents and two members of the Civilian JTF have been killed in the intensified military action against the terror sect in the North East.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Friday that the troops of the various fighting units also rescued 198 captives and recovered arms and ammunition and other items from some locations during the multiple operations in Borno State on Thursday.

Usman said the troops of the 21 Brigade killed 10 of the insurgents and captured one during a clear­ance operation at Bulari, Tori 1, 2 and 3 in which two members of the Civilian JTF also got killed.

He said the troops rescued seven civilians and recovered a Volkswagen Golf car, 25 bicycles and several bags of foodstuff from the insurgents.

Usman also said the troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade intercepted eight suspected Boko Haram members who were attempting to enter Gwoza town on Thursday.

He said the suspected terrorists who claimed to be farmers told the soldiers that they were return­ing from their farmlands in Shiadawey, Takwala and Amdaga Madachi villages, all known to be hideouts of terrorists.

According to Usman, investigation conducted by the troops revealed that the insurgents were on a mission to recruit people into the deadly sect.

He said that the troops found N637,000 from one of the insurgents, Abdulahi Yakubu, identified by another Boko Haram suspect as having trading links with the insurgents.

He stated further that the other members of the group were confirmed to have carried out various acts of terrorism for the insurgents.

The Acting Army Spokesman added that the troops of the 7 Division Special Forces attached to the 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa, arrested a Boko Haram suspect, Abubakar Bello, and six other suspects at a checkpoint.

Also yesterday, troops of 3 Battalion, of 22 Task Force Brigade made an unprecedented catch with the arrest of four Boko Haram terrorists — ameers (kingpins) at Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Lo­cal Government Area of the State.

The arrested kingpins specialized on various as­pects of criminality to sustain the Boko Haram ter­rorists group in their areas.