BREAKING: Troops Rescue Kidnap Victims, Arrest Terrorist Collaborators, Record Surrenders In North East

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under the ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY V and Siege Operations, have recorded significant operational successes including the rescue of abducted civilians, arrest of terrorist collaborators, recovery of weapons, and continued surrender of insurgents’ family members across the theatre.

Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri.

Lt. Col. Uba said: “In a major breakthrough, troops of OPHK, while on operation along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, successfully intercepted and rescued four abducted persons comprising two women and two children.

“The victims—Salamatu Sidiq Ali (19), Halima Idrisa (20), Umar Abdullahi (3), and Mustapha Abdullahi (4)—were among residents abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.

“Preliminary debrief revealed that the victims had been held at a terrorist enclave , but were rescued amid intense military pressure on insurgent hideouts in the Mandara Mountains.

“Following medical evaluation, the rescued victims were safely reunited with their families through community leadership. So far, a total of 65 abducted persons have been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of others.

In a related development, troops of OPHK apprehended a suspected terrorist collaborator, Mrs. Kellu Alhaji Abba (50), at a checkpoint in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area. Items recovered from the suspect included clothing materials and other supplies.

Preliminary investigation according to the military spokesman, indicated that the items were intended for delivery to a terrorist operative in the Dumba general area.

He added that similarly, troops arrested another suspected logistics supplier, Mr. Amadu Abdu (50), along the Dalori axis.