Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 360 women and children who were held captive by Boko Haram insurgents following a coordinated military operation in Borno State.
The rescue mission, carried out by personnel of the 26 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with Special Operations Forces, targeted terrorist hideouts around the rugged Mandara Mountains region near Gwoza Local Government Area.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed that the operation was conducted on June 6 across multiple fronts, culminating in the safe recovery of hundreds of civilians who had spent months in captivity.
According to reports, the rescued victims were among residents of Ngoshe community who were abducted during a deadly Boko Haram attack on the area on March 3, 2026. Since their abduction, the women and children had reportedly been held in remote terrorist enclaves under difficult conditions.
Makama explained that the success of the operation was made possible by preliminary missions executed by Special Operations Forces, which disrupted the activities of the terrorists and created confusion within their camps. The tactical manoeuvres weakened the insurgents’ ability to resist advancing troops, enabling ground forces to penetrate the area and safely extract the hostages.
The operation represents one of the largest recent rescue efforts in the North-East, highlighting the military’s continued commitment to freeing civilians from terrorist captivity and restoring stability to affected communities.
Despite the success, the mission was marred by tragedy as two infants lost their lives during the evacuation process. Reports indicated that the difficult terrain and harsh environmental conditions encountered while transporting the rescued victims contributed to the unfortunate deaths.
Military and medical personnel immediately attended to the rescued civilians upon their arrival at a secure location. Comprehensive medical screenings were conducted to assess their health conditions after months in captivity.
Victims requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised by healthcare personnel attached to the brigade before being transferred to the General Hospital in Gwoza for further treatment and observation.
In addition to medical care, the rescued women and children were provided with food, clean water and other essential humanitarian assistance to help them recover from the ordeal. They were subsequently moved to a secure facility where arrangements are being made for their eventual reunification with family members and loved ones.
Security sources described the operation as both a humanitarian and military breakthrough in the ongoing campaign against insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East region.
The successful rescue is expected to boost confidence in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts while providing relief to families who have spent months searching for missing relatives.
However, security officials cautioned that although the situation in the area is presently under control, the security environment remains volatile and unpredictable due to the continued presence of terrorist elements in parts of the region.
Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies have continued to intensify offensives against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, with authorities reaffirming their determination to dismantle terrorist strongholds and secure communities across the North-East.
The latest rescue operation stands as another significant milestone in the military’s efforts to weaken insurgent networks and bring hundreds of kidnapped civilians back to safety.
