By Amarachi Jim-Nwoko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Troops operating under the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully freed 360 civilians abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe, a community in Borno State, in what has been described as one of the most significant rescue operations in the region in recent months.
The victims were reportedly held in the Mandara Mountains, a known hideout used by insurgents, following an earlier attack on a military formation in Ngoshe by fighters of Boko Haram. During the assault, the attackers destroyed military assets, killed several people, and abducted residents before retreating into the mountainous terrain.
The successful rescue, achieved after weeks of coordinated intelligence and surveillance operations, has been welcomed across political and security circles as a major breakthrough in ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the North-East.
Reacting to the development, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, described the operation as a relief for the victims and their families, who had endured months of uncertainty since the March abduction.
He praised the military and other security agencies for their role in the operation, noting that sustained investment in equipment, intelligence, and political support would be critical to ending the insurgency that has persisted for nearly two decades.
While commending the rescue, Atiku also urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of other abducted Nigerians, including schoolchildren and teachers reportedly kidnapped in parts of Oyo and Borno states, stressing that no citizen should be left behind in captivity.
The military, in its own assessment, said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of sustained intelligence-led missions and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and rescuing remaining hostages across affected regions.
