By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded fresh successes in ongoing counterterrorism operations, rescuing abducted civilians, neutralising terrorists, and arresting suspected collaborators across the North-East theatre.
The latest operation, conducted under Operation DESERT SANITY, saw troops acting on credible intelligence carry out a clearance mission along the Amuda–Gava corridor in the Mandara Mountains axis on May 14, where six women and children abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists were rescued.
The Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the rescued victims were all residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. According to him, those rescued included Amina Salihu, 52; Aishatu Musa, 50; twin sisters Hassana and Hussaina Abubakar, both aged nine; Adamu Zakariyya, 12; and Usman Zakariyya, 10.
Uba said the victims were received by the Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Nasirudeen Abdullahi, and immediately provided medical care at the Brigade Medical Reception Station before being reunited with their families through the community leader (Bulama), Mallam Bulama Kunda, and the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, Mallam Auwalu Hudu.
He further disclosed that troops had so far rescued 60 women and children since the Boko Haram attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026, adding that the brigade commander assured residents that ongoing rescue operations would continue until all abducted persons were safely reunited with their families.
In a separate operation, troops of Sector 1 deployed to Bazamri village in Konduga Local Government Area neutralised two Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters during an aggressive clearance mission. Items recovered from the insurgents included detergent, salt, and a carton of spaghetti believed to be intended for sustaining terrorist elements. The military said no casualty was recorded among troops during the operation.
Similarly, troops deployed at the Mainé checkpoint in Yobe State arrested a suspected Boko Haram collaborator, identified as Ibrahim Alhaji Julo, 30, while conducting routine operations. Uba said the suspect, intercepted in a red Golf vehicle with registration number KTG-397AA from Bauchi State, was allegedly involved in transporting terrorist elements and facilitating illegal tax collection in communities.
The military high command commended troops for their professionalism and resilience, reiterating its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring peace, security, and economic stability across the North-East region.
