Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued a 20-year-old woman, Maryam Muhammad and her son, who were abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe Community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
According to the statement, the victims were rescued during an ongoing operation aimed at securing communities and rescuing persons held captive by insurgents in the Mandara Mountains axis.
The rescued woman told security personnel that she and her son had been held captive at a terrorist enclave controlled by a commander identified as Saha in the Mandara Mountains.
She further revealed that they escaped after their captors abandoned them following sustained military bombardment and intensified fire missions targeting terrorist hideouts in the area.
Similarly, said two additional family members, identified as Binta Umaru,19, and her daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim,2, escaped from another terrorist enclave and surrendered to troops deployed along Gwoza–Limankara road.
“The Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Operation DESERT SANITY V/SIEGE OPERATIONS, continues to intensify offensive and stabilisation operations across the Theatre, leading to the rescue of abducted civilians, neutralisation of terrorists, and increased surrender of insurgents’ family members,” the statement read
“In a major humanitarian breakthrough, troops of OPHK, while conducting offensive operations at Amuda general area, successfully intercepted and rescued two abductees from Ngoshe community.
“The victims, identified as Mrs Maryam Muhammad (20 years) and her son, Bello Muhammad (1 year and 4 months), were among those abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe on 3 March 2026.
“Preliminary debrief revealed that the victims were held at a terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains before managing to escape following intense fire missions on terrorist hideouts, which forced their captors to abandon them.
“After initial medical assessment, the rescued victims were safely reunited with their family members through the Ngoshe community leadership.
“Similarly, two additional family members, identified as Binta Umaru (19 years) and her daughter, Hafsat Ibrahim (2 years), escaped from another terrorist enclave within the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops deployed along Gwoza–Limankara road.
“All surrendered individuals have been properly screened, documented, and are currently in custody undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures.
“These developments underscore the effectiveness of ongoing offensive operations and the gradual collapse of terrorist support structures within the Theatre, particularly around the Mandara Mountains and border communities.
“The Joint Task Force reassures the public of its utmost commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorists, rescuing abducted civilians, and restoring lasting security, peace and economic stability in the North East region.”
“The Military High Command commends the troops for their impressive battle performance, urging them to sustain the operational tempo in the collective interest of national security.”
