Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 12 kidnap victims during a clearance operation in Borno State, officials confirmed on Monday. The operation, carried out by the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts in the state’s forested areas, which have long served as safe havens for insurgents.
The rescue followed intelligence reports indicating that terrorist groups were holding several civilians captive in remote settlements. Acting on the information, troops launched a coordinated offensive into the Gwoza–Bama axis, a corridor known for repeated insurgent activity. According to military sources, the operation involved ground troops supported by air surveillance units to ensure that the captives were safely extracted.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Army spokesperson, said the victims were found “in a distressed condition but stable,” and have been taken to a medical facility for examination. He added that the successful rescue reflects the military’s commitment to reducing the influence of insurgent factions operating across the Northeast.
“Troops cleared multiple enclaves, destroyed terrorist logistics stores, and neutralised several fighters who attempted to resist the operation,” he stated.
Residents of Gwoza and Bama have described increased military presence in the last two weeks, following reports of renewed attacks by splinter Boko Haram factions. The corridor linking Bama to the fringes of the Sambisa Forest has been a persistent stronghold for insurgents since 2014, when the region witnessed large-scale abductions and mass displacement.
Security analysts say the latest rescue aligns with a pattern of intensified counter-insurgency operations aimed at disrupting terrorist mobility and hostage-taking capabilities. Kidnapping for ransom and forced labour remains one of the major tactics still used by both Boko Haram and ISWAP to maintain operational funding and recruit unwilling fighters.
