Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued abducted persons, neutralised terrorists and recovered arms, ammunition and explosive ordnance during operations across the theatre.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the operations were carried out under Operation Desert Sanity and related missions.
This was disclosed on Saturday in a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba.
Uba said troops, while operating along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, intercepted and rescued four abducted persons.
The victims were identified as Salamatu Sidiq Ali, 19; Halima Idrisa, 20; Umar Abdullahi, three; and Mustapha Abdullahi, four.
According to the statement, they were among the residents abducted during the March 3, 2026, attack on the Ngoshe community.
“Following medical evaluation, the rescued victims were safely reunited with their families through community leadership. So far, a total of 65 abducted persons have been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of others,” the statement said.
The statement said troops, supported by the Civilian Joint Task Force, conducted coordinated offensives in the Valle, Ashigashiya and Gakara areas.
During the operation, troops reportedly made contact with suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and engaged them with superior firepower.
The statement read, “In sustained offensive operations, troops of OPHK supported by the Civilian Joint Task Force conducted coordinated offensives in the Valle, Ashigashiya, and Gakara general areas.
“During the operations, troops made contact with suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and engaged them with superior firepower, neutralising two insurgents while others fled towards the Ngoshe axis.”
Uba said troops also intercepted suspected terrorists along the Bravo Kilo 10 axis and neutralised one insurgent. Items recovered from the encounter included a radio set and a mobile phone.
Eight-Year-Old Herder Freed
The military also said troops rescued an eight-year-old boy, Abubakar Mublagha, who was abducted during the March 3 attack on Ngoshe.
He was medically examined and reunited with his family.
In another operation around Uvaha, a deserted village along the Gwoza–Limankara axis, troops rescued a 20-year-old Fulani man, Dahiru Ahamdu.
The victim said he escaped from his captors after artillery bombardments hit terrorist camps in the Mandara Mountains.
“The victim disclosed that he escaped from his captors following intense artillery bombardments by troops which struck terrorist camps, neutralised two insurgents, and created panic within the enclave,” the statement added.
He said he was abducted on May 8, 2026, while grazing cattle at Bororo village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Explosives Recovered
In a separate operation, troops deployed at Buni Gari recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and explosive ordnance allegedly abandoned by fleeing terrorists in the Magza area.
Items recovered included four 40mm RPG bombs, one 81mm mortar bomb and four 60mm mortar bombs.
The statement said the explosives were safely secured by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams.
Uba said troops arrested a suspected collaborator, Kuti Muhammad, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, over alleged links with terrorists.
He said the suspect was in custody for further investigation.
Troops also arrested a 50-year-old woman, Kellu Alhaji Abba, at a checkpoint in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area.
Items recovered from her included clothing materials and other supplies allegedly meant for delivery to a terrorist operative in the Dumba area.
Another suspected logistics supplier, Amadu Abdu, 50, was arrested along the Dalori axis while allegedly transporting packaged items to terrorists.
The military said recovered items included packaged goods, a mobile phone, a cutlass, suspected illicit substances and cash.
Armed Robbery, Cattle Rustling Suspects Held
The statement added that troops responded to an armed robbery incident in Garin Gwigwi village, Biu Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of three suspects.
The suspects were identified as Aliyu Mamadu, Umar Mohammed and Adamu Aliyu.
Items recovered included mobile phones, suspected illicit substances, charms, jewellery, cash, a dagger, a Quran booklet and a locally made firearm.
Troops, in conjunction with local hunters, also arrested four suspected cattle rustlers and terrorist collaborators at Kwaya Kusar Market with six rustled cattle.
The military said some family members linked to Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists surrendered to troops.
They included Aishatu Sale, 20, who surrendered in Bama Local Government Area, and Hauwa Abubakar, 70, who escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains.
“The surrendered individuals disclosed that sustained military pressure and lack of basic necessities within terrorist camps compelled their decision to flee,” the statement said.
The military added that all surrendered persons had been profiled and were undergoing appropriate procedures.
Military Commends Troops
The statement said troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle and a loaded magazine along a known terrorist withdrawal route.
The statement said, “These successes underscore the sustained operational pressure being mounted against terrorist elements across the North East theatre.
“Operation Hadin Kai reiterates its commitment to restoring peace, security and economic stability in the North East region and assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to neutralise threats and safeguard lives and property in the region.”
Uba said the Military High Command commended the troops for their performance and urged them to sustain the operational tempo in the interest of security, peace and economic stability in the North-East and Nigeria.