Over 3,000 residents have returned to the liberated town of Damasak, Borno State, according to a statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman.
Damasak, a riverine town with thriving fish market, is a strategic stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr. Usman stated that the returnees were screened before they were admitted back to their residences.
“Following the clearance of Boko Haram terrorists stronghold in Sambisa forest and confidence building visit to celebrate the Yuletide period with troops in Operation Lafiya Dole by the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, over 3,000 refugees and internally displaced persons returned to Damasak town, Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State today.
“To receive the returnees was a combined team of Local Government officials, traditional rulers, village elders and religious leaders.
“Similarly, the military, civilian JTF and vigilantes screened the returnees,” Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said.
