Troops Free 12 Kidnap Victims in Borno Clearance Operation

Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have freed 12 people kidnapped by Boko Haram and ISWAP along the Gwoza–Limankara road in Borno. The victims, taken on November 14, were rescued during a coordinated clearance mission in the Mandara mountains as part of Operation Desert Sanity IV.

The operation, carried out by soldiers from the 26 Task Force Brigade with support from hybrid forces, hunters and vigilantes, began early Sunday. Advancing through the mountain foothills toward Uvaha, the troops engaged the terrorists in a brief but intense exchange of gunfire. The attackers fled, abandoning their captives.

According to field reports, the victims scattered into nearby bushes for safety and later made their way back toward the road, where troops recovered them around 8:45 a.m. Those rescued include seven women and five children.

The women were identified as Fadi Musa, Jummai Manga, Hamsatu Musa, Jummai Ali, Inna Amadu, Falmata Musa and Hadiza Hamman. After trekking long distances following their escape, the victims were taken to the brigade’s field ambulance for treatment of injuries, including blisters and wounds from beatings suffered in captivity.

They were later given food and handed over to a representative of the Gwoza local government chairman for reunification with their families.