5 Nigerian soldiers missing after Boko Haram ambush rescued

The Nigerian army has announced the rescue of five of its soldiers including a unit commanding officer who went missing after they were ambushed by Boko Haram on July 20.

In a statement on Saturday, army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said they initiated measures including air assets and special forces to search and rescue the missing soldiers who were ambushed at Guro Gongon in the north east of Nigeria.

“Concerted efforts were initiated to search for and rescue them. The measures include the use of air assets, special Forces and patrols,” the statement said.

Concerted efforts were initiated to search for and rescue them. The measures include the use of air assets, Special Forces and patrols.

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) July 23, 2016

“Although they are in a stable condition, they have been moved to our medical facilities for medical care,” it added.

On Friday, 19 soldiers were reported missing while returning from a raid on a Boko Haram base at Alagarno in Yobe State. The raid helped to recover heavy weapons including a truck with an anti-aircraft missile.

TROOPS RECOVER GUN TRUCK AND RAN INTO AMBUSH AT GONGONhttps://t.co/ZDStOCAlfeskusman channelstv pic.twitter.com/dNtQLoGJ2n

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) July 22, 2016

The north-eastern Nigeria is the center of Boko Haram attacks killing at least 20,000 people and rendering 2.6 million people homeless since 2009.