B/Haram holds teenagers as 360 regain freedom

Boko Haram insurgents are still holding onto some teenage boys and girls in their enclave, even as 360 elderly men, women, and young children abducted from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, regained freedom on Sunday. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) said the victims were rescued from the Mandara Mountains, where […]

Boko Haram insurgents are still holding onto some teenage boys and girls in their enclave, even as 360 elderly men, women, and young children abducted from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, regained freedom on Sunday.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) said the victims were rescued from the Mandara Mountains, where Boko Haram fighters had been keeping hundreds of captives under harsh and inhumane conditions.

The insurgents had, on March 3, abducted more than 400 people, including women and children, in what is regarded as one of the largest mass kidnappings by the terrorist group.

The attack occurred during the Ramadan period, when most residents of the community were observing their fast.

Gunshots reportedly first erupted around a military base located about a kilometre away before spreading into the village.

The assault left several people dead, destroyed property worth millions of naira, and forced thousands of residents to flee.

Many of the displaced people are now taking refuge in Pulka, a nearby town a few kilometres from Ngoshe.

Following the attack, the insurgents reportedly marched the abducted victims into the rocky terrains of the Mandara Mountains, a difficult and rugged area with poor visibility and limited access.

Surviving residents, relatives, and community members said they had been in grief and state of uncertainty as contact with many of their abducted loved ones had been lost.

In April, a faction of Boko Haram, Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad (JAS), released a video showing some of the captives and demanded N50 billion ransom for the release of women and children.

The group, led by Abu Ummaimatul Muhajjir, also threatened to execute the captives or “disperse them to unknown locations” if the demand was not met within 72 hours.

Some escapees earlier told Daily Trust that the number of abductees was so large that the insurgents themselves struggled to feed them.

Since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency, Ngoshe—an agrarian community—has suffered repeated displacements, with residents fleeing across parts of Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon.

The insurgents often exploit the porous border region between both countries to launch attacks on the community and retreat into the mountains without trace.

 

How victims were rescued – Military

In a statement, acting spokesman of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Lt-Col Haruna Sani, described the mission as one of the most significant hostage rescue operations carried out in the North East theatre in recent times.

He said the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance and operational planning.

Sani said troops acted on credible intelligence that revealed the location of the hostages and an insurgent support network sustaining the enclave.

He said, “Acting on confirmed intelligence, OPHK Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 launched a meticulously coordinated multi-axis operation designed to isolate the objective area, dominate key terrain, and prevent insurgent reinforcement or withdrawal.

“Supported by real-time ISR feeds, assault forces infiltrated the objective area under the cover of darkness while blocking forces established positions along likely escape routes.

“The operation achieved complete tactical surprise, overwhelming the terrorists before an organised response could be mounted.

“Faced with the speed, precision, and overwhelming combat power of the advancing troops, several insurgents abandoned their positions and fled into the surrounding mountainous terrain, while others surrendered.

“The hostages were swiftly secured, medically screened, and evacuated from the objective area.

“Regrettably, two infants succumbed to exhaustion occasioned by the extremely challenging mountainous terrain and the hardships endured during their prolonged captivity.

“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group.”

The statement added that the military high command commended the courage, professionalism, and discipline displayed by personnel involved in the operation.

It said the command noted that the rescue reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, inter-agency synergy, and the armed forces’ resolve to protect civilians.

 

We were picked at mountain’s foot – Freed victims

However, in an interview with Daily Trust, some of the freed victims said the military picked them at the foot of the mountain after being released by the Boko Haram insurgents.

“On Saturday night, we were gathered by the insurgents and presented an option to either stay with them or return to our families. The majority of us said we wanted to go home.

“A moment later, they asked us to leave. We walked through the mountainous terrain to a point where we were picked up by the military.

“We were conveyed to Pulka in two military trucks from Gwoza. The military head and chairman of Gwoza Local government council were there when we arrived,” One of the victims told our correspondent.

According to her, some young girls and boys, aged around 12, 16 and 20 years, are still with the Boko Haram insurgents.

“The insurgents did not give the young girls and boys any option. We left them there,” she said.

Another victim, who pleaded for anonymity, also said there are over 60 young men and women that are still held captive by the insurgents.

He said the captives released by insurgents were older men, elderly women and children under ten years of age.

Some sources who spoke to our correspondent yesterday claimed that the victims were released following negotiations with the insurgents.

One of the sources said for days, fighter jets hovered around at least three different locations around the Mandara Mountains where the victims were held in captivity.

“I can assure you that Nigerian authorities knew of the whereabouts of the captives but could not immediately rescue them for fear of collateral damage,” he said.

“The terrorists held the victims as human shields while negotiation was ongoing,” the source said.

However,  Daily Trust could not confirm if indeed there was monetary settlement or prisoner swap during the negotiation or the actual terms as at press time.

 

Families cheer freed victims in Pulka

The freed victims met cheering crowd that gathered on Sunday to watch them step into freedom after several weeks in captivity.

Some of the family members who spoke to our correspondent described the moment as memorable and sad, seeing the conditions of their loved ones.

One of them, Malam Nuhu, said many families broke into tears of joy as the victims arrived Pulka.

“We all rushed and hugged them, but they looked haggard and exhausted. Most of them were looking older and confused.

“For me, this feeling is indescribable because my wife and brother have returned safely. I can only thank God for His mercies,” said Nuhu.

 

Parents of retained girls cry out

As the crowd was celebrating, some families were in tears as their relatives were not released.

A victim, who returned without her brother’s daughter said her freedom was greeted by concern and guilt as she arrived at Pulka, but could not account for the whereabouts of the young girl.

“In fact you will not know who and who was released at that moment. We were set free in the night and everyone was rushing to leave the place,” she said.

Another, whose daughter was not among those released called on the government to do more so that all those in captivity are returned home.

A security analyst and head of the Sociology department of Yobe State University, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, raised concern over the retention of young men and women by the insurgents.

“It is a bad omen anytime there is mass abduction and the insurgents keep the young women and men captive.

“The terrorists retain the young women and force them into marriages, domestic servitude, or use them as human shields and suicide bombers.

“While the young men would be brainwashed and conscripted into terrorism to be carrying out attacks in communities around,” he said.

He advised the government and the military to intensify efforts and make sure that all the captives are rescued without delay.

The President of Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, told our correspondent that all the abductees from Ngoshe were released on Saturday night.

He insisted that four babies born in captivity died as a result of infections, while their mothers are currently receiving treatment at a government facility in the state.

“We are happy and grateful that through our efforts, our persistent cries, and long discussions, the results are now being seen.

“The BOSYA President has been a solid force behind these humanitarian mediations, negotiations and discussions, and this is what leadership is about — standing for the people, speaking for the voiceless, and working tirelessly to save lives.

“To the Ngoshe women and children who were released tonight, welcome home. Your return brings hope, joy, and relief to Southern Borno,” he said.

The group also called on the federal government, Borno State government, and relevant local government authorities to carry out proper screening of the rescued victims.

 

Zulum, Ndume commend troops, urge sustained operations

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, and former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, have commended the military for the rescue of the abductees.

Governor Zulum, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against insurgency, commending the troops’ courage, professionalism and sacrifice.

“I wish to express my profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai for this remarkable achievement,” Zulum said.

He noted that the rescue had renewed hope among affected communities and reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the North East.

Zulum also praised local communities for their support to security agencies, stressing that inter-agency collaboration had made the operation possible.

The governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to continue supporting the military with logistics and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to aid ongoing operations.

He also assured residents of Mussa in Askira Uba LGA of continued efforts to secure the release of abducted school children, while calling for sustained calm and cooperation.

Zulum also directed the assessment and reconstruction of destroyed houses to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their ancestral homes.

In a separate statement, Senator Ndume commended the military for what he described as a “remarkable and patriotic” operation, praising the troops for their courage despite logistical challenges.

He applauded the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, and the Commander of 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza, for their roles in the success of the mission.

Ndume also acknowledged Zulum’s efforts, noting that the governor’s interventions significantly contributed to the outcome.

He further commended the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, for providing relief materials to displaced persons, but urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to complement ongoing reconstruction efforts in Ngoshe.

According to him, restoring infrastructure in the community would enable displaced residents currently in camps to return home, especially with improved military presence in the area.

Ndume also called for intensified operations to rescue abducted school children in Mussa and travellers kidnapped along the Biu–Buratai road.

He, however, condemned recent killings of soldiers and repentant Boko Haram volunteers in Mandaragra village, Biu LGA, describing them as tragic and unacceptable.

 

Timeline of abductions in Borno

April 14, 2014 Boko Haram militants seized 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok.

April 2024, hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs), primarily women and children seeking firewood were abducted in Gambarou Ngala.

In March, over 416 people, mostly women and children, were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government area of Borno State.

May 15, 2026 (Mussa): Armed terrorists stormed the Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area, abducting 42 school children.