By Our Reporter

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have rescued 360 abductees from a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave in the Mandara Mountains, Borno.

The operation involved Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 following weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational planning, according to military authorities.

A statement by the Acting Media Information Officer, OPHK, Lt.-Col. Haruna Sani, said the hostages comprised men, women and children abducted from communities around Ngoshe.

Sani described the mission as one of the most significant hostage rescue operations conducted in the North-East theatre in recent times.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the location of the hostages and the insurgent network sustaining the enclave.

According to him, troops integrated Human Intelligence, Signals Intelligence and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets to develop the target.

He said the intelligence effort enabled commanders to understand the terrain, insurgents’ disposition, defensive arrangements and the condition of the abductees.

Sani said intelligence operatives successfully penetrated the terrorist network and obtained information on hostage locations, insurgent positions and planned movement routes.

He added that coordinated information operations created uncertainty within insurgent ranks and disrupted their command and control structure.

“Acting on confirmed intelligence, troops launched a multi-axis operation to isolate the objective area and prevent terrorist reinforcement or escape.

“The assault achieved complete tactical surprise, forcing several insurgents to flee while others surrendered.

“The rescued hostages were secured, medically screened and evacuated from the enclave for treatment and humanitarian support,” he said.

Sani, however, said two infants died from exhaustion caused by the harsh mountainous terrain and conditions endured during captivity.

He said the successful rescue represented a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group.

According to him, military high command commended personnel involved in the operation for their courage, professionalism and discipline.

He said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led missions and the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting citizens.

The military spokesman also assured that follow-up operations were ongoing to neutralise remaining terrorists and dismantle support networks in the area.