Army rescues 360 kidnap victims in major Borno operation, two die during extraction

The Nigerian Army has recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, rescuing 360 civilians, mostly women and children, who were abducted by terrorists from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The successful operation was carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with Special Operations Forces during a coordinated offensive across several terrorist enclaves around the Mandara Mountains on June 6.

The Theatre Commander of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, disclosed the development while briefing journalists on the outcome of the mission.

According to him, the rescue operation was the culmination of carefully planned military actions that involved preliminary incursions by Special Operations Forces aimed at disrupting terrorist camps and weakening enemy resistance before the deployment of ground troops.

He explained that the special forces’ operations created confusion and disarray within the terrorists’ ranks, enabling soldiers of the 26 Task Force Brigade to move in and safely extract the captives from the area.

“The rescued civilians were among residents abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026,” Abubakar said.

He described the mission as one of the most significant rescue operations undertaken in recent months, noting that the majority of those freed were vulnerable women and children who had endured months of captivity under difficult conditions.

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Despite the success of the operation, the Theatre Commander revealed that the military suffered a heartbreaking setback during the evacuation process as two infants lost their lives.

According to him, the deaths occurred while troops were transporting the rescued victims through the rugged and challenging terrain surrounding the Mandara Mountains.

“However, the operation recorded a tragic setback as two infants died during the rescue effort due to the harsh and difficult terrain encountered while moving the victims to safety,” he said.

Military authorities said immediate humanitarian and medical assistance was provided to the rescued civilians upon their arrival at a secure location.

Abubakar stated that all the victims underwent comprehensive medical screening, while those requiring urgent attention were stabilised by medical personnel attached to the 26 Task Force Brigade.

The affected individuals were subsequently transferred to the General Hospital in Gwoza, where they are receiving further treatment and care.

In addition to medical support, the rescued civilians were provided with food, water and other basic necessities to help them recover from the ordeal.

The military also moved the victims to a secure holding facility where arrangements are being made for their formal handover to relevant government agencies and eventual reunification with their families.

Security analysts have described the rescue as a significant achievement in the military’s sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating within the Sambisa-Mandara axis and restore normalcy to communities affected by insurgency in Borno State.

The operation further underscores the intensified offensive being carried out by Operation Hadin Kai against terrorist elements across the North-East, with military authorities reiterating their commitment to rescuing all persons held captive and denying insurgents freedom of movement within the region.

For many of the rescued victims, the operation marks the end of months of uncertainty and suffering, while offering renewed hope to families and communities still awaiting the return of loved ones abducted by terrorists.