June 7 (THEWILL) — Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued 360 abducted persons from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State, in what military authorities described as one of the largest hostage rescue operations in the North-East theatre in recent times.
The operation, conducted by Special Forces and troops of Sector 1, followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and extensive operational planning aimed at locating and recovering civilians allegedly held by insurgents.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, the rescued victims included men, women, and children abducted from several communities, particularly around the Ngoshe axis, and held in difficult conditions.
The military said the operation was launched after receiving credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources identifying both the location of the hostages and the insurgent support structures sustaining the enclave.
Military intelligence units subsequently initiated a comprehensive target development process integrating Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities involving unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols.
According to the statement, sustained intelligence gathering enabled commanders to establish a detailed picture of the terrain, insurgent positions, movement patterns, defensive structures, and the condition of the captives before the assault phase commenced.
Military authorities further disclosed that a significant breakthrough was achieved through the penetration of the insurgent network by intelligence assets working under military supervision.
The statement said the assets supplied actionable intelligence on the precise locations of abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders, internal security arrangements, and planned relocation routes.
It added that coordinated information and psychological operations were simultaneously employed to create confusion and mistrust among insurgent elements, weakening cohesion and disrupting command structures before troops moved in.
Acting on confirmed intelligence, Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 launched a coordinated multi-axis operation designed to isolate the target area, dominate key terrain, and prevent possible insurgent reinforcement or escape.
Supported by real-time surveillance feeds, assault troops reportedly infiltrated the objective area under cover of darkness while blocking teams positioned themselves along likely withdrawal routes.
The military said the operation achieved tactical surprise, overwhelming insurgents before an organised response could be mounted.
According to the statement, several insurgents abandoned their positions and fled into the surrounding mountainous terrain, while others surrendered.
The rescued victims were subsequently secured, medically screened, and evacuated from the area.
However, military authorities confirmed that two infants died during the evacuation process.
“Regrettably, two infants succumbed to exhaustion occasioned by the extremely challenging mountainous terrain and the hardships endured during their prolonged captivity,” the statement said.
The remaining rescued victims have since been relocated to safe locations where they are receiving medical attention and humanitarian assistance.
The Military High Command commended personnel involved in the operation, describing their conduct as courageous, disciplined, and professional.
It stated that the mission demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to protecting civilians and restoring peace across conflict-affected communities.
The military also assured the public that follow-up clearance operations remain ongoing to neutralise residual insurgent elements, dismantle support networks, and prevent future abductions.
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