Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued six abducted civilians in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, following intensified military operations in the Mandara Mountains.
The victims, comprising women and children, were intercepted and rescued in the early hours of May 1 around Amuda, a deserted area between Ngoshe and Gava known for terrorist movements.
The troops were returning from an overnight offensive when they encountered the escapees.
Those rescued were identified as Zainab Idris (18), Fatima Abubakar (17), Maimuna Abdulrashid (24), and three children: Muhammad Idris (1), Sadiq Abdullahi (7), and Fatima Abdulrashid (5).
Military sources said the victims had been abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026, and were held in captivity at a terrorist enclave in Gava before escaping.
During the rescue operation, troops reportedly came under sporadic gunfire from fleeing terrorists attempting to recapture the victims.
The soldiers responded, engaging the attackers and forcing them to retreat into the mountainous terrain.
The military attributed the rescue to sustained pressure on terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains, including recent air interdiction missions that have weakened insurgent operations and triggered internal disarray.
Intelligence reports indicate that the armed groups are increasingly destabilised, with rising cases of escape among captives.
Following their rescue, the victims received medical attention at a military facility before being reunited with their families later that day. The handover was conducted in Ngoshe in the presence of community leaders, including the Wali of Ngoshe.
The Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing operations aimed at rescuing abducted persons and dismantling terrorist strongholds across the North-East.
