LAGOS, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops operating in restive northeast region said Thursday it arrested 3,332 suspected Boko Haram terrorists between January to February 1 during a mop up operation following the dislodgement of the insurgents from Sambisa forest.
Army Commander in charge of the operation, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, said out of the suspects arrested 26 were foreigners comprising of 17 Chadians, while the remaining 9 are from the Republic of Niger.
The suspects are in custody undergoing interrogation, he added.
Irabor said troops also conducted ambush operations against the Boko Haram terrorists and recovered large quantity of weapons.
The military chief told reporters it arrested five persons believed to be high ranking Boko Haram terrorists, in its efforts to clear the remnants of the terrorist group.
Irabor said the arrest was made in collaboration with vigilantes called "Civilian troops".
The suspects were arrested after numerous operations in different parts of the northeast, he added.
The military chief also informed that the Jan. 16 airstrike on an Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp was a mistake, which has been deeply regretted by the military.
He conformed that a total of 122 people lost their lives in the unfortunate airstrike.
