Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued 360 kidnap victims from a heavily fortified Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State, in what the military described as a major intelligence-led operation against insurgents.
The rescued victims, comprising men, women and children, had been held in captivity under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis of the state.
The OPHK spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Haruna Sani, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, saying the operation targeted a deep enclave belonging to Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram.
According to Sani, the successful rescue followed weeks of painstaking intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance and detailed operational planning.
He said the mission was launched after security agencies received credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources revealing the exact location of the hostages and exposing an extensive insurgent support network sustaining the enclave.
“OPHK intelligence elements subsequently launched an extensive target development process involving the integration of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted through unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols,” he said.
According to him, sustained intelligence collection enabled commanders to develop a comprehensive understanding of the terrain, insurgents’ disposition, defensive structures, movement patterns and the condition of the abductees.
“This intelligence-driven approach enabled the force to accurately map the objective area, identify vulnerabilities within the terrorist network and significantly reduce risks to the hostages during the rescue mission,” he added.
Sani disclosed further that a decisive breakthrough was achieved through the successful penetration of the terrorist network by carefully cultivated intelligence assets working under the supervision of OPHK military intelligence personnel.
The assets, he said, provided timely and actionable intelligence on the exact locations of the abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders, internal security arrangements and planned relocation routes.
He added that coordinated information and psychological operations simultaneously created uncertainty and mistrust within insurgent ranks, weakening their cohesion and disrupting command-and-control structures.
“The resulting intelligence advantage provided OPHK with unprecedented situational awareness and enabled commanders to shape the operational environment well before the commencement of the assault phase,” he said.
Sani explained that acting on confirmed intelligence, OPHK Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 launched a meticulously coordinated multi-axis operation designed to isolate the target area, dominate key terrain and prevent insurgent reinforcement or withdrawal.
Supported by real-time ISR feeds, assault forces infiltrated the objective area under the cover of darkness, while blocking forces secured likely escape routes.
“The operation achieved complete tactical surprise, overwhelming the terrorists before an organised response could be mounted. Faced with the speed, precision and overwhelming combat power of the advancing troops, several insurgents abandoned their positions and fled into the surrounding mountainous terrain, while others surrendered,” he said.
The spokesperson said the hostages were immediately secured, medically screened and evacuated from the area.
“Regrettably, two infants succumbed to exhaustion occasioned by the extremely challenging mountainous terrain and the hardships endured during their prolonged captivity. The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support,” he stated.
He described the operation as a major success that dealt a significant blow to the terrorist group.
Sani noted that the rescue underscores OPHK’s growing operational reach, intelligence dominance and tactical superiority in denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting vulnerable populations across the North-East theatre.
He said the Military High Command had commended the courage, professionalism and discipline displayed by troops involved in the operation.
“The successful rescue of 360 abductees reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, the growing synergy among security stakeholders and the unwavering resolve of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to protect innocent citizens and restore lasting peace to affected communities,” he said.
Sani assured that aggressive follow-up exploitation and clearance operations were ongoing to neutralise remaining terrorist elements, dismantle residual support networks and prevent future abductions.
