Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued two abducted civilians, neutralised a terrorist, and intensified pressure on insurgent enclaves across the North-East as part of ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY V/SIEGE OPERATIONS.
Key Highlights:
- Troops rescued a woman and her infant from terrorist captivity.
- One terrorist was neutralised during operations.
- Soldiers recovered ammunition and other terrorist items.
- More captives and family members escaped and surrendered.
- The military said ongoing offensives are weakening insurgent groups.
According to military authorities, troops conducting offensive operations in the Amuda general area successfully intercepted and rescued Mrs. Maryam Muhammad, 20, and her infant son, Bello Muhammad, aged one year and four months. The victims were among those abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the mother and child had been held in a terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains before escaping amid sustained military fire missions targeting insurgent hideouts. The operations reportedly forced the terrorists to abandon their captives.
Following medical assessment, the rescued victims were reunited with their family members through community leaders in Ngoshe.
In a related operation, troops deployed at Wulgo and the proposed Combat Outpost (COP) Jagarawaji, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, carried out intensive offensives across Wulgo, Gumsari, and Hausari.
During the operations, troops uncovered several signs of terrorist activity, including makeshift medical facilities stocked with transfusion materials and antibiotics, rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform belonging to a terrorist commander, commonly referred to as an Amir.
Military sources confirmed that one terrorist was neutralised during the operation, while no casualties were recorded among the troops.
The military also reported a growing number of escapes and surrenders by family members of terrorists as a result of sustained operational pressure.
In the Gwoza axis, a 50-year-old woman identified as Ghwa’a Biwa surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion after escaping from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains. She reportedly cited persistent military offensives and worsening living conditions within the camps as reasons for her decision.
Similarly, Binta Umaru, 19, and her two-year-old daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim, escaped from another insurgent enclave and surrendered to troops deployed along the Gwoza-Limankara road.
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Military authorities stated that all surrendered individuals have been screened, documented, and are undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures.
The Joint Task Force said the latest developments demonstrate the effectiveness of ongoing military operations and signal a gradual weakening of terrorist support structures, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring security in the region, the force pledged to sustain pressure on terrorist groups, rescue abducted civilians, and support efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and economic stability in the North-East.
The Military High Command commended troops for their performance and urged them to maintain the momentum of ongoing operations in the interest of national security.
