Troops rescue eight abductees, including children, in Gwoza
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued eight abductees, including several children, from terrorist captivity along the Gwoza East corridor of Borno State.
The victims were rescued in two separate operations on Sept. 12 by troops conducting perimeter and routine patrols around the Armuda and Gava axis of Gwoza Local Government Area.
The first group of five abductees comprised Mallam Sadiq, 65; Asmau Sadiq, 14; Abdulbashir Sadiq, 11; Aisha Sadiq, 8; and Fatima Sadiq, 6.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the victims escaped from the enclave of terrorists identified as Chikede.
Further interrogation established that Mallam Sadiq was the Chief Imam of Ngoshe town and had been abducted alongside his family during the attack on the community on March 3, 2026.
In a separate development at about 4 p.m. the same day, troops on routine patrol at the base of Gava sighted another three abductees at the fringes of Armuda.
They were identified as Mrs Binta Abubakar, 20; Yahaya Saleh, 11; and nine-month-old Mohammed Abubakar.
The trio also reportedly escaped from their terrorist captors before being located by the troops.
Mallam Sadiq and his family were subsequently handed over to the local authorities in Gwoza, while Mrs Binta and her children were handed over to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Pulka for care and further assistance.
The latest rescue brings the total number of victims rescued through the Gwoza East corridor to 157.
The operation highlights the continued pressure being mounted by troops along the Gwoza axis, particularly against terrorist enclaves and movement routes used to hold abducted civilians.
The rescue of the children, including a nine-month-old baby, is also a stark reminder of the human cost of prolonged terrorist captivity in communities affected by the insurgency.
Troops continue to dominate the area through sustained patrols and clearance operations aimed at rescuing more victims and preventing terrorists from re-establishing freedom of movement.
The general security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops maintain satisfactory morale and fighting efficiency.
