Troops Rescue 6 Ngoshe Captives From Boko Haram

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued six abducted civilians and their subsequent reunion with family members in Ngoshe community, Gwoza local government area of Borno State.

A statement issued yesterday in Maiduguri by the media information officer of OPHK, Lt Col Sani Uba, said the rescue operation followed sustained offensive actions, including recent air interdiction missions targeting terrorists’ enclaves in the Mandara Mountains.

He said acting on credible intelligence, troops of OPHK, while returning from an overnight offensive operation in the early hours of Friday, intercepted and rescued six women and children around Amuda, a deserted area between Ngoshe and Gava in Gwoza local government area known for terrorist transit activities.

“The rescued victims were identified as Mrs. Zainab Idris (18), Fatima Abubakar (17), Maimuna Abdulrashid (24), Muhammad Idris (1), Sadiq Abdullahi (7), and Fatima Abdulrashid (5).

“Preliminary debriefings revealed that they were among residents abducted during the terrorist attack on Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026 and had been held in captivity at a terrorist enclave in Gava before escaping.

“During the rescue, troops came under sporadic enemy fire as fleeing terrorists attempted to pursue the escapees. The troops responded decisively, engaging the terrorists in a brief exchange of fire, forcing them to withdraw into the mountainous terrain.

“The successful rescue operation is also linked to intensified operational pressure on terrorist elements, which has significantly degraded their cohesion and heightened internal disarray.

“Intelligence indicates that the terrorists are increasingly desperate and paranoid, following sustained losses and the escape of captives, including a 16-year-old girl who had been forcefully married to one of their commanders,” Uba explained.

“At about 1400 hours the same day, they were successfully reunited with their families through the Wali of Ngoshe, Alhaji Shuaibu Dabawa, in an emotional ceremony witnessed by community members,” Uba added.