65 Abducted Persons, Others Rescued as Troops Intensify Operations in Mandara Mountains

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued four abducted civilians, arrested suspected terrorist collaborators and recorded fresh surrenders of insurgents’ family members during sustained operations across the North East.

In a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, on Friday, troops operating under Operation DESERT SANITY V and Siege Operations recorded major breakthroughs in parts of Borno State.

The statement said troops rescued two women and two children along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis in Gwoza Local Government Area. The victims were abducted during the March 3, 2026 terrorist attack on Ngoshe community.

According to the military, the victims were rescuedfollowing sustained pressure on terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains and have since been reunited with their families after medical evaluation.

Operation HADIN KAI disclosed that a total of 65 abducted persons have so far been rescued, while efforts continue to secure the release of others.

Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator, Mrs. Kellu Alhaji Abba, at a checkpoint in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, with items allegedly meant for delivery to terrorists.

Similarly, another suspected logistics supplier, Amadu Abdu, was arrested along the Dalori axis while transporting supplies reportedly intended for insurgents.

In a separate operation, troops and local hunters arrested four suspected cattle rustlers andterrorist collaborators at Kwaya Kusar Market with stolen livestock.

The military also confirmed the surrender of family members linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, citing sustained military pressure and harsh conditions within terrorist camps as reasons for their escape.

Troops further recovered an AK-47 rifle and a loaded magazine along a known terrorist withdrawal route.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations aimed at restoring peace, security and economic stability across the North East region.