The Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in conjunction with Special Operations Forces, have announced the rescue of the 360 civilians, mainly women and children, abducted by terrorists from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of the North East Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, told the Newsmen that the rescue followed a coordinated special operation conducted across multiple fronts around the Mandara Mountains, on June 6.
According to him, Special Operations Forces initially carried out preliminary missions that created confusion within terrorist camps, paving the way for ground troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade to extract the captives successfully
The rescued civilians were among residents abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.
“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.
He added that all rescued persons underwent immediate medical screening upon arrival, while those requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised by brigade medical personnel and admitted to the General Hospital in Gwoza for treatment.
“The victims were also provided with food and water before being moved to a secure holding facility pending their handover to relevant authorities and reunification with their families,” he said.
The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Kaigama, also confirmed the release of the victims.
According to Kaigama, the alliance played a mediatory role in securing the victims’ release through sustained communication and negotiations.
“We have secured the release of all the 416 women and children from Ngoshe. They were released on June 6,” he said in a statement.
He expressed gratitude over the outcome, noting that persistent efforts, repeated appeals, and extensive discussions had finally yielded positive results.
Kaigama urged the Federal Government, the Borno State Government, and local authorities to carry out thorough screening and documentation of the released victims to facilitate their reintegration and ensure their wellbeing.
BOSYA had earlier disclosed that it maintained contact with the insurgents after the abductees were reportedly displayed by the group in captivity.
The alliance has since served as an intermediary between the victims’ families and the abductors.
