Soldiers free six kidnapped females and kids in Borno state

Troops from the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully rescued six women and children who were abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Ngoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, in a daring operation that underscores their commitment to protecting civilians.

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The rescue operation was made public in a statement issued on Friday night, signed by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI.

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According to the statement, the rescue was the result of a coordinated operation that included air interdiction missions targeting terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains, which have been a stronghold of the insurgents.

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Troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted and rescued the victims, who were identified as Zainab Idris, 18, Fatima Abubakar, 17, Maimuna Abdulrashid, 24, Muhammad Idris, 1, Sadiq Abdullahi, 7, and Fatima Abdulrashid, 5, around Amuda, a deserted area between Ngoshe and Gava known for terrorist movement.

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The victims were among residents abducted during an attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026, and had been held in captivity in a terrorist enclave in Gava before managing to escape, according to preliminary debriefing.

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Troops came under sporadic fire during the rescue as fleeing terrorists attempted to pursue the escapees, but they responded swiftly, engaging them in a brief exchange of fire and forcing them to withdraw into the mountains.

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The intensified military pressure has weakened terrorist cohesion and increased internal disarray within their ranks, leading to desperation and escape attempts by captives, as noted in the statement.

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A 16-year-old girl who was allegedly forced into marriage by a terrorist commander was among earlier escapees, highlighting the horrific experiences of those held captive by the insurgents.

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After the rescue, the victims were given first aid and medical attention at a military facility before being handed over to community leaders, who later reunited them with their families in Ngoshe.

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The reunion was facilitated by the Wali of Ngoshe, Alhaji Shuaibu Dabawa, in an emotional ceremony that marked a new beginning for the rescued women and children.

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The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to securing communities, rescuing abducted persons, and eliminating terrorist elements across the North-East, while urging residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.

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The Military High Command commended the troops for their performance and encouraged them to sustain the ongoing offensive operations across the theatre, in a bid to completely defeat the insurgents.