NAF airlifts rescued hostages from Sambisa forest

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has airlifted rescued hostages who had been in the captivity of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs).
The Air Force in a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Olatokunbo Adesaya, said the rescue followed a concerted efforts by air and ground elements against BHTs in the Sambisa Forest, which led to the capture of Camp Zairo,
It added that the rescued hostages which included aged women as well as children, were airlifted to the 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri by the NAF Agusta 109 helicopter.
“At the NAF Base in Maiduguri, the NAF Medical Team, which was on standby, conducted preliminary medical checks on the rescued hostages and also provided them with medical treatment prior to the process of integrating them into the larger society.
“Furthermore, the rescued hostages, who were all looking tired and malnourished after the period of captivity, were fed by the NAF.”
Meanwhile, the statement said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed that those with serious medical cases be immediately placed on admission to ensure they were adequately cared for.
“This is in furtherance of the NAF’s resolute efforts at winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the locals, as part of an overall campaign strategy.”
The statement recalled that the NAF, under its current leadership, has been rendering humanitarian services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East and other parts of the country as part of its corporate social responsibility.