Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has successfully rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave in the Mandara Mountains of southern Borno State, marking one of the most significant hostage rescue missions in Nigeria’s North-East region in recent years.
The intelligence-led operation, carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, including Special Forces and personnel from Sector 1, resulted in the safe rescue of hundreds of men, women, and children who had been held captive by terrorists after being abducted from several communities, particularly around the Ngoshe axis.
According to military sources, the operation followed weeks of intensive intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and strategic operational planning.
The mission was launched after security agencies received credible intelligence pinpointing the location of the hostages and revealing the existence of a sophisticated insurgent support network sustaining the terrorist enclave.
To ensure a successful outcome, Operation Hadin Kai integrated multiple intelligence resources, including Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations supported by unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols.
This comprehensive intelligence effort enabled military commanders to gain a detailed understanding of the terrain, terrorist positions, defensive structures, movement patterns, and the condition of the abductees.
A major breakthrough came through the successful penetration of the insurgent network by intelligence assets working under the supervision of OPHK military intelligence personnel.
These assets reportedly provided real-time and actionable intelligence on the exact locations of the captives, the deployment of insurgent commanders, internal security arrangements, and planned relocation routes.
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In addition, coordinated information and psychological operations reportedly created confusion and distrust within the terrorist ranks, weakening their command structure and disrupting operational coordination.
Military authorities described the operation as a demonstration of the growing intelligence capabilities, operational reach, and tactical effectiveness of Operation Hadin Kai in combating insurgency across the North-East.
The successful rescue of 360 abductees highlights the military’s ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, deny insurgents freedom of movement, and protect vulnerable communities affected by years of insecurity in Borno State and surrounding areas.
The operation is being hailed as a significant victory in Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign and a major humanitarian success for families whose loved ones have now regained their freedom.
