Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have rescued two abducted victims by terrorists, neutralised a suspected insurgent, and intensified military pressure on terrorist enclaves across the North-East as part of ongoing Operation Desert Sanity V/Siege Operations.
The military disclosed that the latest operations, conducted across several locations within the theatre, have also led to an increase in the number of family members of terrorists fleeing insurgent camps and surrendering to troops.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Sani Uba, on Thursday.
According to the statement, troops conducting offensive operations in the Amuda general area successfully intercepted and rescued two abductees from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The rescued victims were identified as 20-year-old Mrs. Maryam Muhammad and her infant son, Bello Muhammad, aged one year and four months.
It was gathered that the victims were among those abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 3, 2026.
The military stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been held captive in a terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains.
The statement added that they reportedly escaped after sustained military fire missions targeted insurgent hideouts, forcing their captors to flee.
Following medical assessment and care, the mother and child were reunited with their family through community leaders in Ngoshe.
In a related operation, troops deployed to Wulgo and the proposed Combat Outpost (COP) Jagarawaji, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), carried out offensive operations in the Wulgo, Gumsari and Hausari areas.
During the operations, troops recovered several items linked to terrorist activities, including makeshift medical facilities equipped with blood transfusion materials and antibiotics, rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a uniform reportedly belonging to a terrorist commander.
The military said one terrorist was neutralised during the operation, while no casualties were recorded among the troops.
Operation Hadin Kai further reported that sustained military offensives are continuing to weaken insurgent strongholds, particularly within the Mandara Mountains, forcing family members of terrorists to abandon the camps and surrender.
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Among those who surrendered was a 50-year-old woman identified as Ghwa’a Biwa, who escaped from a terrorist camp in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion in the Gwoza axis.
She reportedly cited relentless military operations and worsening living conditions within the camps as reasons for her escape.
Similarly, a 19-year-old woman, Binta Umaru, and her two-year-old daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim, also fled a terrorist enclave and surrendered to troops deployed along the Gwoza–Limankara Road.
The military said all surrendered individuals have been screened, documented and are currently undergoing further profiling in accordance with established procedures.
The Joint Task Force described the developments as evidence of the growing effectiveness of ongoing operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures in the North-East, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.
It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups, rescuing abducted civilians and restoring lasting peace, security and economic stability across the region.
The Military High Command commended troops for their performance and urged them to maintain the momentum in ongoing operations aimed at defeating insurgency and safeguarding national security.
