Nigerian Army troops under Operation Hadin Kai, working with Special Operations Forces, say they have rescued 360 women and children abducted from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Theatre Commander of the North East Joint Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, said the rescue was carried out on June 6 during a coordinated operation across several locations around the Mandara Mountains.
He explained that Special Operations Forces first conducted preliminary missions that disrupted insurgent positions, allowing ground troops from the 26 Task Force Brigade to recover the captives.
The victims were abducted during an attack on Ngoshe on March 3, 2026.
According to the Army, two infants died during the evacuation due to the difficult terrain encountered while moving the rescued civilians to safety.
All 360 persons were taken for medical screening upon arrival. Those requiring urgent care were stabilised by military medical personnel and later transferred to the General Hospital in Gwoza. The rest were provided food and water before being moved to a secured facility pending formal handover and family reunification.
Separately, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) said it played a mediating role in efforts that led to the release of abducted residents. The group claimed that 416 women and children were released following sustained communication and negotiations, also on June 6.
BOSYA said it maintained contact linked to the abductees during their captivity and acted as an intermediary between families and the group holding them.
Authorities have not yet reconciled the difference between the Army’s figure of 360 rescued persons and BOSYA’s claim of 416 released individuals. The status of the additional persons mentioned remains unclear.
