March 31, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled a planned mass abduction by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, rescuing more than 150 civilians during an attack along the Buratai–Kamuya axis.
A statement issued on Monday night by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that the incident occurred at about 1450 hours when troops deployed at Dutse Kura came under attack while escorting civilians.
According to him, troops responded swiftly to the ambush, engaging the insurgents in a fierce firefight while ensuring the safety of the civilians in their care.
Uba explained that in the course of the engagement, surveillance assets identified a large-scale abduction attempt by the terrorists, who had mobilised about 17 vehicles to whisk away men, women, and children into the bush.
“While troops engaged the insurgents, surveillance detected the terrorists attempting to abduct a large number of civilians using multiple vehicles. The situation prompted an immediate reinforcement by the Quick Response Force,” he said.
The reinforcement proved decisive, as the combined strength of the troops repelled the attackers and triggered a sustained pursuit towards the Mangari area.
Overwhelmed by superior firepower and coordination, the insurgents were forced to abandon both the captives and their vehicles as they fled.
All the rescued civilians were safely recovered and moved to Buratai for onward reunification with their families, bringing relief to affected communities.
However, the pursuit operation recorded some casualties on the side of the military.
Uba disclosed that troops encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Bula Zarma–Mangari axis, which left five personnel severely injured.
The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated for specialist medical care.
Despite the setback, the military reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and ensuring the safety of civilians, particularly as the Easter period approaches.
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