Borno State Sees Major Rescue as Troops Free 92 Kidnapped Civilians

In a daring operation, troops from the 135 Special Forces Battalion, under the Operation HADIN KAI, successfully rescued 92 civilians who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno State. The rescue mission took place on Saturday, May 23, along the Buratai–Kamuya road in the Biu Local Government Area. According to Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, the operation was a result of surveillance that detected suspicious movements by the terrorists. Upon detecting these movements, a Quick Reaction Force was swiftly mobilized to the scene, accompanied by reinforcements from the 27 Task Force Brigade. The combined forces pursued the terrorists towards the Mangari-Dora area, engaging them in a fierce battle that forced the insurgents to abandon their captives and vehicles before fleeing into the bush. In addition to rescuing the 92 kidnapped civilians, which included 52 males, 33 females, and 7 children, the troops also recovered eight vehicles. The terrorists, in an attempt to hinder the advancing troops, planted three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the Bula Zarma–Mangari route. However, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team successfully detected and detonated these explosives without incurring any casualties. The rescued civilians were provided with immediate welfare support and escorted by the troops to Damaturu, where they were released to continue their journey. The operation underscores the commitment of the Operation HADIN KAI troops to protecting civilians and demonstrates their operational reach and combat readiness. As stated by Lieutenant Colonel Uba, 'Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have demonstrated their unrelenting commitment to the protection of civilians, executing a swift and decisive rescue operation that freed 92 kidnapped victims from BH/ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road, Biu Local Government Area, Borno State, on Saturday 23 May 2026.' The operation serves as a clear message that any attempts by terrorists to harm, kidnap, or intimidate civilians will be met with swift and overwhelming force across the North East Theatre.