At least seven persons kidnapped by Boko Haram on Tuesday have been freed, an official has said.
The oil explorers hired by the state oil firm, NNPC, were kidnapped by the terror group, alongside their security aides.
The victims were part of the team exploring for crude in the Lake Chad basin.
Report reaching journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital suggest that at least seven of the abducted persons including members of the NNPC exploration crew were freed after a rescue-mission embarked upon by a joint force of soldiers and local security personnel.
The council chairman of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State, Zanna Modu, informed journalists via a phone interview that the rescue was effected on Wednesday after a heated gun battle between soldiers and members of the terror group.
Mr. Modu said of the abducted persons, the troops were able to rescue four Civilian-JTF members, two NNPC personnel and a staff of the University of Maiduguri.
The chairman said a large number of Boko Haram fighters were killed during the shootout.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sani Usman, army spokesman, confirmed that troops rescued all the “NNPC staff” and recovered the bodies of slain soldiers.
Usman also said some of the vehicles taken from the contingent were recovered.
He said,”So far, they have rescued all the NNPC staff and recovered the corpses of the officer, eight soldiers, and a civilian have who have been evacuated to 7 division medical services and hospital.”
“The team recovered four vehicles one of which includes a gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, two white Hilux taken away from NNPC staff and one blue Hilux belonging to CJTF. The team also recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition, several spare tyres, many jerry cans of containing petroleum, oil and lubricant, assorted drugs, improvised explosive device (IED) making materials, reflective jackets and a Motorola handheld radio, among others. The team also neutralised many of the terrorists. The troops are not relenting in the pursuit, search and rescue effort.”
Additional report from NAN