By Peter Effiom
When troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force in the Northeast, raided a covert Boko Haram camp tucked away deep within the Mandara Mountain axis of Gwoza in southern Borno State, they demonstrated extraordinary bravery. In what military officials describe as one of the most effective hostage rescue operations in recent memory, they saved 360 kidnapping victims.
The rescue came after a significant intelligence-driven effort that military officials characterize as one of the most effective hostage rescue operations in recent memory.
The victims, who were primarily women and children kidnapped from neighborhoods around the Ngoshe axis, were set free. When Boko Haram militants raided Ngoshe in March 2026, they kidnapped 416 individuals, including children.
However, troops conducted a decisive attack on a heavily defended terrorist base amid the hilly terrain after weeks of intelligence collection, surveillance, and clandestine reconnaissance.
Military officials claim that the operation included human intelligence, signals intelligence, and aerial surveillance to map enemy positions before the hit and determine the precise location of the captives. Troops moved forward from several directions under the cover of darkness.
The rescue effort was the outcome of weeks of intelligence collection, surveillance, and operational planning, according to a statement released on Sunday, June 7, by Haruna Sani, the acting spokeswoman for Operation Hadin Kai.
He claimed that to map the region, keep an eye on insurgent activity, and evaluate the hostages’ condition, military intelligence officials then integrated human intelligence, signals intelligence, and surveillance operations employing unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance missions.
Under cover of darkness, ground forces from the 26 Task Force Brigade successfully liberated the kidnapped citizens through a multi-axis operation. As troops advanced on the enclave, some rebels surrendered, and others escaped into the neighbouring rocky terrain.
Two infants perished from weariness brought on by the challenging terrain and the terrible conditions they experienced while in captivity, but 360 abductees were successfully rescued.
After the attack, soldiers recovered and evacuated the hostages, who underwent medical examinations before being transferred to secure areas for medical attention and humanitarian aid.
The operation was praised by the Military High Command, which described it as a breakthrough in continuous efforts to destroy terrorist networks and bring peace back to the Northeast.
The public was also reassured by the High Command that follow-up clearance operations are in progress to locate escaping militants, destroy any residual networks of support, and stop kidnappings in the area.
In the ongoing attempts to neutralize terrorists, destroy their networks, and free civilians in captivity, the operation has been hailed as a breakthrough.
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