Operation HADIN KAI says intelligence-led mission in Mandara Mountains freed hundreds of captives after weeks of surveillance and planning.
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State in what military authorities described as one of the most significant hostage rescue operations in the North-East in recent years.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, who said the mission followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and detailed operational planning.
According to the military, the rescued victims, comprising men, women, and children, had been held captive under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis of Borno State.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani explained that the operation was launched after credible intelligence revealed the exact location of the hostages and exposed an extensive insurgent support network operating within the enclave.
He said intelligence teams combined Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to build a comprehensive understanding of the terrain, terrorist positions, defensive structures, and the condition of the captives.
The military further disclosed that intelligence operatives successfully penetrated the terrorist network, providing actionable information that enabled commanders to plan and execute the rescue mission with minimal risk to the hostages.
Acting on the intelligence, Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 reportedly launched a coordinated multi-axis operation, isolating the target area and blocking escape routes while advancing under the cover of darkness.
According to the statement, the operation achieved complete tactical surprise, forcing several insurgents to flee while others surrendered.
“The hostages were swiftly secured, medically screened, and evacuated from the objective area,” the statement noted.
However, the military revealed that two infants died from exhaustion due to the difficult mountainous terrain and the hardships endured during their prolonged captivity.
The remaining rescued victims have been evacuated to safe locations where they are receiving medical attention and humanitarian support.
Military authorities described the mission as a major setback for terrorist elements operating in the region and a demonstration of the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led operations in the fight against insurgency.
The High Command also assured the public that follow-up clearance operations are ongoing to eliminate remaining terrorist elements, dismantle support networks, and prevent future abductions.
Meanwhile, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) confirmed that all abductees from Ngoshe were released on Saturday night.
The group’s President, Samaila Ibrahim-Kaigama, disclosed that four babies born while in captivity died from infections, while their mothers are currently receiving treatment at a government health facility.
BOSYA welcomed the return of the victims and called on the Federal Government, Borno State Government, and relevant authorities to conduct proper screening and rehabilitation programmes for those rescued.
The successful operation has been widely hailed as a major humanitarian breakthrough and another significant step in ongoing efforts to restore peace and security across communities affected by insurgency in the North-East.