Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued 86 kidnapped victims and foiled a deadly ambush by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno State, in one of the military’s most successful recent counter-terrorism operations.
According to a statement released by Major Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, the operation was carried out on Sunday by troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Sector 2 OPHK. The troops reportedly engaged the insurgents at Dutse Kura after discovering that the terrorists were abducting civilians and seizing vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya Road.
The soldiers swiftly confronted the attackers and pursued them toward Mangari, where they overpowered the terrorists in a follow-up engagement near a camp. The insurgents fled in disarray, leaving behind captives and weapons. A search of the area led to the destruction of 11 makeshift terrorist structures and the rescue of 86 hostages, including men, women, and children.
Read Also:
- Army Chief vows to crush terrorism completely, orders Troops to sustain offensives in Northeast
- Troops repel Boko Haram drone attack on Borno Military base, kill scores of Terrorists
- Troops crack down at notorious criminals network in Taraba
Recovered items from the scene included one AK-47 rifle, five magazines containing 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles. The terrorists’ camp was subsequently destroyed after clearance operations.
In a separate operation at Mangada, troops intercepted and arrested 29 logistics suppliers attempting to deliver fuel, tyres, and food to terrorists at Chilaria. Recovered materials included two pickup trucks and a tricycle loaded with 1,000 litres of petrol, four gallons of engine oil, two brand-new gun truck tyres, a large cache of medical supplies, and significant quantities of food items and provisions.
Major Uba confirmed that the entire operation was conducted without any casualties on the part of the troops. He added that the Military High Command had commended the soldiers for their professionalism and bravery, urging them to sustain the momentum and continue denying terrorists freedom of movement across the North-East.
Security analysts say the rescue marks another major victory in Nigeria’s decade-long fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region, where joint task forces have intensified operations in recent months.
