Troops Rescue 360 Women and Children Abducted in Gwoza Operation

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Troops of the North‑East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), together with Special Operations Forces, liberated approximately 360 civilians—mainly women and children—who had been abducted by terrorists from the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Military officials said the rescue followed a coordinated operation carried out on June 6 across several sites around the Mandara Mountains.

Special Operations Forces first conducted preliminary missions that disrupted activities within terrorist camps, setting the stage for the 26 Task Force Brigade to extract the captives successfully.

The rescued civilians had been taken during an attack on Ngoshe on March 3, 2026.

Earlier Operation Hadin Kai reports noted that some captives had been freed during previous missions in the Mandara Mountains, an area believed to serve as an insurgent hideout.

The latest operation, however, ended in a tragic loss when two infants died during the rescue effort, reportedly due to the difficult terrain encountered while evacuating victims to safety.

A military source said all rescued persons received immediate medical screening upon arrival.

“Those requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised by brigade medical personnel and admitted to the General Hospital, Gwoza, for treatment,” the source said.

The victims were also provided with food, water and other relief materials before being moved to a secure holding facility pending handover to relevant authorities and reunification with their families.

Security sources described the operation as a major humanitarian and operational achievement in ongoing efforts to rescue civilians and degrade terrorist networks operating in remote parts of the North‑East.

They added that while the security situation in the area remains relatively calm, troops continue to maintain vigilance and operational readiness.

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