Troops Rescue 360 Abductees From Terrorist Enclave in Borno

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 360 abductees from a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) stronghold in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State.

The rescue operation was carried out by Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 following weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational planning, according to a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani.

The military said the victims, comprising men, women and children, had been held captive by insurgents after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis of Gwoza Local Government Area.

According to the statement, the operation was launched after security agencies received credible intelligence on the location of the hostages and the activities of an insurgent support network operating within the enclave.

The military said intelligence obtained through human sources, signals intelligence and surveillance operations enabled troops to identify the location of the abductees, assess insurgent positions and plan the rescue mission.

Acting on the intelligence, Special Forces and Sector 1 troops conducted a coordinated operation that isolated the target area and prevented the movement of insurgents in and out of the enclave.

The military said the troops achieved tactical surprise, forcing several insurgents to flee while others surrendered. The abductees weresubsequently secured and evacuated from the area.

However, two infants died from exhaustion during the evacuation process due to the difficult mountainous terrain and conditions associated with their prolonged captivity.

The remaining 358 rescued victims were evacuated to safe locations, where they are receiving medical attention and humanitarian assistance.

The military high command described the operation as a major success and said follow-up operations were ongoing to track down fleeing insurgents, dismantle terrorist support networks and prevent further abductions in the area.