RismadarVoice Reporters, June 7, 2026
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully rescued 360 abductees from a terrorist enclave located deep within the Mandara Mountains in southern Borno State.
The operation, described by military authorities as one of the most significant hostage rescue missions in the North-East in recent times, involved Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 and followed weeks of intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and operational planning.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, the rescued victims comprised men, women, and children who had been abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis, and held in captivity under harsh conditions.
The military disclosed that the operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence on the location of the hostages and the activities of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) network operating within the area.
Intelligence operatives reportedly combined human intelligence, signals intelligence, aerial surveillance, and long-range reconnaissance to identify the location of the abductees, map the terrain, and monitor insurgent activities before the assault.
Military authorities said the operation achieved tactical surprise as troops infiltrated the area under the cover of darkness, isolated the objective, and prevented insurgents from reinforcing or escaping.
Faced with the advancing troops, several terrorists reportedly fled into surrounding mountainous areas, while others surrendered.
The rescued victims were immediately secured, medically screened, and evacuated to safe locations for treatment and humanitarian assistance.
However, the military reported that two infants died from exhaustion resulting from the harsh terrain and the prolonged conditions of captivity during the evacuation process.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their courage, professionalism, and discipline, describing the operation as a breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and protect vulnerable communities in the North-East.
It added that follow-up operations are ongoing to track down fleeing insurgents, dismantle remaining terrorist networks, and prevent future abductions in the region.
