• Operation HADIN KAI penetrates Mandara Mountains in massive intelligence-led raid
• Gov. Zulum, youth group hail gallantry; tragedy hits as infants die post-rescue
By Peter Taiwo
In what has been described as one of the most significant hostage rescue missions in the North-East theatre in recent times, troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified terrorist stronghold in Borno State.
The hostages, comprising men, women, and children, were freed from a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave hidden deep within the rugged terrain of the Mandara Mountains in southern Borno.
The Breakthrough Operation
According to a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer for OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, the successful rescue followed weeks of intensive intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and multi-layered electronic and human surveillance.
Military intelligence assets successfully penetrated the insurgent network, providing commanders with precise data on hostage locations, insurgent command structures, and internal security setups. Simultaneously, military psychological operations were deployed to sow discord and mistrust within the terrorist ranks.
Acting on this actionable intelligence, OPHK Special Forces and Sector 1 troops executed a multi-axis night assault, completely catching the terrorists by surprise. Overwhelmed by the military’s superior firepower, several insurgents abandoned their posts and fled into the mountains, while others surrendered.
The rescued victims, many of whom had been held under brutal conditions after being abducted from communities around the Ngoshe axis, were immediately secured and evacuated for medical screening.
Tragedy Amid Victory
Despite the overwhelming success of the mission, the operation was touched by tragedy. Reports indicate that some infants lost their lives due to the extreme hardships of prolonged captivity and exhaustion from navigating the harsh mountainous terrain during evacuation.
While the military statement confirmed the loss of two infants, a local community umbrella body, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), reported that four babies had succumbed to infections.
Confirming the development, BOSYA President Samaila Ibrahim-Kaigama stated that the surviving mothers are currently receiving treatment at a government healthcare facility.
He praised the persistent advocacy and community negotiations that supported the military’s breakthrough, adding, “To the Ngoshe women and children who were released, welcome home.
Your return brings hope, joy, and relief to Southern Borno.” The group also urged federal and state authorities to conduct proper profiling and screening of the rescued victims.
Zulum, Military High Command React
Reacting to the development, the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, commended the military’s gallantry, describing the mission as a remarkable demonstration of professionalism and tactical superiority.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the military leadership.
“The rescue of 360 abductees from the Boko Haram stronghold is a significant achievement. It underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the determination of our security forces to ensure that no citizen is abandoned in the hands of terrorists,” Zulum said.
The Governor, who had previously visited the affected frontier communities of Ngoshe and Pulka to reassure displaced residents, pledged that the state government would continue to provide logistical support to sustain the military’s momentum.
He also urged residents of Mussa in Askira Uba Local Government Area to remain hopeful, assuring them that the government remains fully committed to securing the release of their missing school children.
The Military High Command has reassured the public that follow-on clearance operations are still ongoing in the Mandara Mountains to neutralize residual terrorist elements and completely dismantle their support networks.
