Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have secured the release of 360 civilians held by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, JAS, in a heavily fortified enclave deep inside the Mandara Mountains, southern Borno State. The military called it one of the most significant hostage rescues in the North East Theatre in recent times.

The operation was carried out by Special Forces and Sector 1 troops of the Joint Task Force (North East). According to the HQ Nigerian Army, the mission came after weeks of painstaking intelligence preparation, covert reconnaissance, and tactical planning.

The assault was set in motion after OPHK received credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources. The information revealed the exact location of the captives and exposed a complex insurgent support network sustaining the enclave.

Intelligence elements then built a detailed target profile. They integrated Human Intelligence, HUMINT, Signals Intelligence, SIGINT, and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, missions. Unmanned aerial systems and long-range patrols were used to monitor movement patterns, defensive arrangements, terrain, and the condition of the abductees.

Through sustained collection and analysis, commanders mapped the objective area and identified vulnerabilities within the terrorist network. A decisive breakthrough came when carefully cultivated intelligence led to penetration of the insurgent network, giving troops the final details needed to reduce risk to the hostages.

The freed civilians include men, women, and children abducted from several communities, mainly around the Ngoshe axis. They had been kept under harsh conditions inside the terrorist camp before the raid. The Army said the successful operation highlights the growing intelligence dominance and tactical reach of Operation HADIN KAI in denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting vulnerable communities.

The rescued persons are expected to undergo medical screening and reintegration support. No casualty figures for troops or insurgents were released in the initial statement.

Source: HQ Nigerian Army official Facebook page.