Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued a total of 60 women and children previously abducted during a raid on the Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The victims were part of a larger group seized by insurgents during a major security breach in March.
Troops intercept insurgents along the Mandara Mountains corridor
The most recent phase of the rescue mission took place along the Amuda–Gava corridor within the Mandara Mountains axis on 14 May 2026. During this specific operation, troops intercepted Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents to liberate six captives, including elderly women and young children.
The military identified the rescued individuals as Amina Salihu, 52; Aishatu Musa, 50; nine-year-old twin sisters Hassana and Hussaina Abubakar; Adamu Zakariyya, 12; and Usman Zakariyya, 10. The operation, conducted under the codename Operation Desert Sanity, relied on actionable intelligence regarding insurgent movement routes in the region.
Medical intervention and community reunification in Ngoshe
Nasirudeen Abdullahi, Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, received the survivors and mandated immediate medical evaluations. Following health clearances, the military coordinated with community leaders in Ngoshe to facilitate the victims’ return to their families.
The 60 individuals recovered so far represent a fraction of the more than 416 persons abducted during the initial attack on 3 March 2026. Abdullahi reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustained kinetic operations until every remaining abductee is accounted for and safely returned.
Local leaders commend counter-insurgency efforts
The Chief Imam of Ngoshe, Mallam Auwalu Hudu, expressed gratitude for the military’s persistence. During a brief ceremony, the religious leader offered prayers for the personnel involved in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign, highlighting the community’s support for the security forces.
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