Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have rescued 47 persons, mostly women and children, who were held captive by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the victims were rescued from Kangarwa village in the Lake Chad region following sustained ground and air offensives against insurgent enclaves.
The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, the rescue was made possible by intensified military operations that forced the insurgents to abandon their positions.
“The successful rescue operation was made possible through sustained aggressive pressure and relentless offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region,” Mr Goni, an army captain, said.
“The unrelenting ground and air offensives forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion, enabling the victims to escape from prolonged captivity.”
He said the rescued civilians are currently receiving medical attention and humanitarian assistance at a secure location pending their reintegration into society.
“The rescued persons are currently being seen by medical professionals at a secure location. Necessary humanitarian support is being provided in coordination with relevant agencies to facilitate their eventual reintegration,” he added.
According to the military, the latest rescue demonstrates ongoing efforts not only to weaken insurgent groups operating in the North-east but also to secure the freedom of civilians abducted during attacks on communities across the region.
Lake Chad remains insurgency hotspot
Kangarwa and other communities in Kukawa Local Government Area lie within the Lake Chad basin, one of the areas most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency over the past decade.
The region has witnessed repeated attacks, abductions and displacement of residents, forcing thousands to flee their homes and depend on humanitarian assistance.
Despite recent military gains, remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters continue to operate in parts of northern Borno, particularly around the Lake Chad axis, Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains.
Security analysts say women and children often constitute a significant proportion of those held captive by insurgent groups, many of whom are abducted during raids on rural communities or while travelling between settlements.
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The military has, in recent months, intensified both air and ground operations targeting insurgent hideouts across the North-east amid renewed concerns over attacks on communities and military formations.
The rescue also comes amid continuing concern over other civilians still in captivity in Borno State. On 15 May, suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted pupils and students from Mussa-Biri Primary School and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
The abducted learners were still in captivity as of the latest public update, a development that recently prompted a protest by the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Maiduguri.
Mr Goni said the Theatre Command remains committed to sustaining offensive operations aimed at dismantling the remaining terrorist networks and restoring peace to the region.
“The Theatre Command reaffirms its resolve to sustain offensive operations, dismantle remaining ISWAP networks and restore peace and normalcy across the North East region,” he said.
The identities of the rescued persons and the duration of their captivity were not disclosed.