Troops rescue abductees, arrest suspected terrorist collaborators in North East
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have rescued six abducted women and children and arrested several suspected terrorist collaborators during separate operations across the North East theatre.
The operations were conducted under the ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba.
He said troops acting on credible intelligence following an air interdiction mission around the Mandara Mountains rescued the abductees during a coordinated operation at a suspected terrorist crossing point near Amuda on May 12.
The rescued victims were identified as Aisha Musa, 18; Aisha Mohammed, 17; Fatima Yahaya, 20; Saudatu Musa, 4; Garba Mohammed, 5; and Mohammed Yahaya, aged three months.
According to the statement, the victims were among residents of Ngoshe community abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during an attack on the community on March 3, 2026.
The military said the rescued victims were immediately taken to a military medical facility for treatment before being reunited with their families through the Bulama of Ngoshe, Mallam Adamu Gunda.
In a separate operation conducted on the same day, troops deployed at Tango 7 in Konduga Local Government Area arrested a 40-year-old woman identified as Hauwa Bulama, suspected to be associated with terrorist elements.
Items recovered from the suspect included detergent, washing soap, a torchlight and seasoning cubes.
Preliminary investigation, according to the military, revealed that the suspect was allegedly on her way to Gezuwa to meet four of her children believed to be members of a terrorist group.
The suspect has been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Similarly, troops of Sector 2 OPHK, supported by military intelligence personnel, arrested two additional suspects identified as Bakura, 18, and Adiza, 17, during a follow-up operation in Damaturu.
The arrests were linked to an earlier operation involving the interception of a suspected ammunition courier, Ba’akaka Abubakar, also known as Modogol, who was allegedly attempting to supply ammunition to terrorist elements.
Military authorities said preliminary findings indicated that Adiza had allegedly been assigned to collect ammunition from the courier for onward delivery to a terrorist commander.
The suspects are currently in custody while efforts continue to track and apprehend the suspected terrorist commander and recover the ammunition.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, rescuing abducted civilians and restoring peace across the North East.
The military high command also commended troops for what it described as their professionalism, resilience and sustained operational momentum in the fight against insurgency.
