Troops of the Joint Task Force North East under Operation Hadin Kai have recorded fresh operational gains in ongoing missions against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Borno and surrounding areas.
According to a statement by military authorities, soldiers operating under various offensives, including Operation Desert Sanity, successfully neutralised suspected insurgents, rescued abducted civilians, and recovered arms, ammunition, and explosive materials in multiple coordinated engagements.
One of the key breakthroughs came along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, where troops rescued four abducted civilians — two women and two children — who had been taken during an earlier terrorist attack on Ngoshe community. The victims were later medically evaluated and reunited with their families.
In separate operations across Valle, Ashigashiya, Gakara, and surrounding areas, troops engaged suspected terrorist elements, killing several insurgents while others fled into surrounding terrain. Similar encounters along the Bravo Kilo 10 axis also led to the neutralisation of additional fighters and recovery of communication equipment.
Security forces also intercepted a cache of explosive ordnance and weapons abandoned by fleeing terrorists in the Magza area. Items recovered included mortar bombs and rocket-propelled grenade components, which were safely handled by explosive ordnance disposal teams.
In another development, a young boy abducted during the March 2026 Ngoshe attack was rescued after sustained military pressure on insurgent hideouts in the Mandara Mountains. Another victim, a herder abducted in Adamawa State, also regained freedom after escaping from captivity during military bombardments targeting terrorist camps.
The operations further led to arrests of suspected collaborators, logistics suppliers, and criminal informants allegedly linked to insurgent activities. Several suspects were intercepted while transporting goods believed to be destined for terrorist enclaves, while others were arrested in connection with robbery and cattle rustling cases.
Military authorities also confirmed the continued surrender of some family members linked to insurgents, attributing the trend to sustained pressure on terrorist strongholds and worsening conditions within their camps.
So far, officials say dozens of abducted civilians have been rescued in recent operations, with ongoing efforts to locate and recover others still in captivity.
The military high command commended the troops for their sustained efforts and urged them to maintain operational momentum as part of broader efforts to restore stability in the North-East region.