Borno Kids Break Free from Boko Haram Clutches as Military Intensifies Onslaught

In a significant development, five abducted children have managed to escape from the clutches of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. This daring breakout was made possible by the sustained military pressure exerted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai on insurgent hideouts. According to military sources, the rescue operations took place on June 4, during the ongoing fighting and perimeter clearance patrols conducted by troops in the North-East theatre. The 82 Division Task Force Battalion played a crucial role in rescuing two female escapees, Aisha Idrisa, 13, and Fatima Abubakar, 11, who were found around the Amuda general area of Gwoza Local Government Area. It was gathered that the girls had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Sahalawa area, following intensified military bombardments and ground operations that forced the insurgents to abandon their positions. Preliminary debriefing revealed that the two girls are indigenes of Pulka community and were abducted by terrorists in 2025. A military source disclosed that the escapees attributed their freedom to the sustained military pressure and bombardments that compelled the terrorists to flee, thereby creating an opportunity for them to escape captivity. The rescued girls were subsequently screened, documented, and reunited with their families at the Pulka Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, in the presence of camp officials. In a related incident, three other female escapees, identified as Wuriya Kaka, 12, Fauza Abu, 13, and Hussaina Usman, 13, surrendered to troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza after escaping from Guduf Nagadayo in the Mandara Mountains. The military stated that the three girls are currently undergoing screening and profiling procedures in line with established protocols. Security analysts believe that the increasing number of escapees from terrorist-held locations reflects the growing pressure being exerted on insurgent groups through sustained military operations across the North-East. The military maintained that the overall security situation in the theatre remained calm but unpredictable, while troops continued to demonstrate high morale and operational effectiveness in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.