Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 12 kidnap victims during a coordinated clearance operation in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno State, a military source has said.
The victims—seven women and five children—were abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Nov. 14 along the Gwoza–Limankara road.
According to the source, the captives were freed after troops launched a pre-dawn offensive on Monday, overwhelming the insurgents.
Troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade, 192 Battalion, the Brigade Garrison, and supporting Hybrid Forces, hunters, and vigilantes advanced along the foot of the Mandara Mountains up to Uvaha, engaging the terrorists with superior firepower. The insurgents, unable to withstand the assault, abandoned the captives and fled.
The victims, who had initially scattered into nearby bushes during the exchange of fire, re-emerged around 8:45 a.m. and were evacuated by the troops.
The rescued women were identified as Fadi Musa, Jummai Manga, Hamsatu Musa, Jummai Ali, Inna Amadu, Falmata Musa, and Hadiza Hamman.
They told troops the terrorists fled during the intense firefight, leaving them behind.
The women and children were taken to the brigade field ambulance for medical attention. Many of them sustained blisters from long trekking and reported being severely beaten in captivity.
After receiving care and meals, they were handed over to a representative of the Chairman of Gwoza Local Government Area for reunification with their families.
The source added that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) commended the troops and urged them to sustain the offensive against terrorists across all theatres.
