Soldiers rescue 53 hostages, recover eight vehicles in Borno
By: Abudu Olalekan
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 53 civilians and recovered eight vehicles, after dismantling a suspected ISWAP/JAS roadblock along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the incident in a statement posted to their X handle on Friday. It was signed by Capt. Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI.
The operation was carried out on Wednesday, June 24.
It all unfolded very quickly actually.
Troops stationed at Dutse Kura spotted the terrorists blocking the highway on surveillance cameras. A Quick Reaction Force team mobilised immediately.
That is faster than anyone thought they could respond.
They got to the scene, then pursued the retreating insurgents towards the Mangari–Dora general area. They made contact, got into a sustained firefight, and forced the terrorists to break and run in confusion.
No casualties among the troops have been reported.
During clearance operations afterwards, troops successfully rescued all 53 civilians that had been seized at the roadblock. They also recovered all eight vehicles taken by the insurgents.
The statement added that troops cleared the terrorists withdrawal route, held the area and conducted extensive follow up searches. No further contact was made.
All rescued people, recovered vehicles and property were safely moved back to Buratai town. The rescued civilians are currently going through documentation and routine medical evaluations right now.
The military commended the troops for their professionalism and incredibly swift response during the operation.
The command also urged residents within the theatre of operations to remain vigilant, and to continue providing security agencies with timely information on any suspicious activity they see.
Borno State remains the epicentre of Nigeria’s long running insurgency, which began all the way back in 2009 when Boko Haram launched its violent campaign. The state has seen almost constant insecurity ever since, including regular attacks on both civilians and military positions.
This latest rescue is not an isolated incident. It adds to a series of recent announced successes for Operation Hadin Kai. Earlier this month the command confirmed they had killed 27 terrorists during operations in the Southern and Northern Tumbus areas of Borno.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
