Troops of the Joint Task Force (Northeast), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled a planned mass abduction by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Sector 2, rescuing more than 150 civilians during an attack along the Buratai–Kamuya axis of Borno State on Monday.
The operation was disclosed in a statement by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, on Monday night, who said the incident occurred at about 1450 hours when troops deployed at Dutse Kura came under attack while escorting civilians.
According to him, while troops engaged the insurgents, surveillance assets detected the terrorists attempting to abduct a large number of civilians—men, women and children—using about 17 vehicles into the bush.
He said a swift response by the Quick Response Force reinforced the troops’ position, repelled the attack and triggered a pursuit towards the Mangari area, forcing the insurgents to abandon both the captives and their vehicles.
All the rescued civilians were safely recovered and moved to Buratai for onward reunification with their families. However, during the pursuit, troops encountered an improvised explosive device along the Bula Zarma–Mangari axis, leaving five personnel with severe injuries.
The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated for specialist medical care, while the military reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and sustaining pressure on terrorist elements across the North East, particularly as the Easter period approaches.
